LEAKED: MORE INFORMATION ON CONTROVERSIAL GRADING RULES FOR ROCKWOOD'S MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS. AND, A TWIST: RECORDS SHOW, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS VOTED FOR IT, APPARENTLY WITHOUT KNOWING.
*Lowest score possible is 50%, even if the work is missing.
*No points off for late work.
*Homework doesn't count toward the overall grade.
The changes, and lack of transparency surrounding them, are frustrating parents and teachers.
A Rockwood middle school teacher: "We TOLD them that they needed to do a big P-R push to explain to parents these changes because people will be irate and need to understand why this is the case. But, once again, it falls on us teachers to handle it, which is b-s, because it's completely out of our hands."
Instead, Rockwood quietly fast-tracked a policy they're now blaming for the changes that parents and teachers are questioning.
In this post, we outline how.
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*Didn't include the grading changes in official documents...
*Submitted a proposed policy where it wouldn't get much notice on the Board of Education (BOE) agenda...
*Rushed the BOE to skip procedure and approve it, before parents and teachers knew what was going on.
We'll show you the documents in a second.
First, more about the grading changes.
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THE CHANGES, LEAKEDAll of the changes became official in June. Below is instruction that teachers say they first got in August.
A teacher showed us slides from a presentation Rockwood used to explain "Middle School Edit," which outlines a rule that teachers can't give any grade lower than a 50% (even if the work is missing) and other ways middle school teachers are supposed to grade student work this school year.
Because information about the changes is not in public documents, these slides are the only written evidence we've seen of the district's intentions.
NERVOUS
Because teachers are nervous to publicly express their opinions about the controversial grading changes, we are not naming them and we agreed to reproduce the writing on the slides to avoid showing the originals.
The slides instruct teachers to implement equitable grading practices, tell them not to take off points for late work, and to give at least 50% for a grade even if the work is missing:
Most of the attention has been on missing assignments. But, since our last report, parents are realizing this school year, no assignment can get a grade less than 50%.
"I thought it was just for "missing" work. It honestly upsets me even more, knowing that it is much broader than I knew. I am not happy with, and do not agree with, this new policy either way."
WHAT NEW POLICY?
Administrators tell us it's Rockwood district policy 6450, which was updated this summer. Rockwood's Board of Education voted to approve it on June 22nd.
IT'S NOT IN THERE
But, blaming the policy for the grading changes only led to confusion, because the new grading changes are NOT written anywhere in 6450's policy.
In the separate regulations that correspond to the policy, there is one line about excluding homework from the grade, but the only reference to grading says that "A-F letter grades will be used in grades 6-12."
The policy DOESN'T say 50% is now the lowest grade or that there's a change to the points range for the "F."
This is policy 6450 in its entirety:
The same is true of 6450's corresponding regulation. There's nothing about the minimum 50% grade requirement, nothing about changing the point range for the letter grade F.
WHY ISN'T IT THERE? DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
Dr. Willott explained: "The 50% minimum and no zeros is not included in regulation (or policy) because it is a practice."
A practice is something decided on by administrators, not the school board. "Administrators."
But, you wouldn't know that from emails and calls with parents. Parents aren't hearing that *administrators* decided to make the minimum grade 50%. They're hearing it's the "policy."
This reply came from a middle school principal: "A recent policy and regulation has been put in place which does stop grades from being marked below a 50%."
THEY NEEDED THE POLICY
Administrators likely keep blaming the "new policy" because they couldn't have made their grading changes without it.
*Dr. Shelley Willott requested the update to policy 6450.
*Willott also suggested the updated language that's now in the policy.
These are all documents that are available to the public.
NERVOUS
Because teachers are nervous to publicly express their opinions about the controversial grading changes, we are not naming them and we agreed to reproduce the writing on the slides to avoid showing the originals.
The slides instruct teachers to implement equitable grading practices, tell them not to take off points for late work, and to give at least 50% for a grade even if the work is missing:
Note the emphasis on grading "to support hope, efficacy (ability) and achievement..." Administrators tell us the grading changes are meant to inspire learning.
As we previously reported, parents are seeing the result of the changes, and they don't like it. Here, a student's missing assignment got 5 out of 10 correct, anyway. Even though it wasn't turned in.
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| A missing assignment with a score of 50%, as seen on Infinite Campus. Source: 7th grade mom in Rockwood |
Most of the attention has been on missing assignments. But, since our last report, parents are realizing this school year, no assignment can get a grade less than 50%.
"I thought it was just for "missing" work. It honestly upsets me even more, knowing that it is much broader than I knew. I am not happy with, and do not agree with, this new policy either way."
That comment is from a mom of a Rockwood 7th grader.
WORRY
She is among parents and Rockwood middle school teachers who fear that giving unearned points for work that is subpar, or not done at all, is not the way to help struggling students. And, not the way to motivate ANY students.
"Isn't this just a way to pass kids to the next grade? I mean, it's making it easier to pass the class," said a Rockwood middle school dad.
She is among parents and Rockwood middle school teachers who fear that giving unearned points for work that is subpar, or not done at all, is not the way to help struggling students. And, not the way to motivate ANY students.
"Isn't this just a way to pass kids to the next grade? I mean, it's making it easier to pass the class," said a Rockwood middle school dad.
STANDARDS BASED GRADING
Teachers tell us Rockwood is moving middle schools to standards-based grading (similar to what's in our elementary schools), which emphasizes measuring whether or not the student learned the material, as opposed to whether or not the student does all the work.
That's why homework (with rare exceptions) will no longer be part of a student's overall grade. The philosophy is that homework is generally practice, and practice shouldn't be penalized for wrong answers.
FIX THE "F"
Willott says the way to fix the skewed tiers is to make the points range for "F" match the others. That means, instead of the range 0-59, the new range for "F" in middle schools is now 50-59.
In other words, Rockwood just made 50 the new zero.
A Rockwood middle school teacher: "90% of teachers do not agree with this in my meetings. We understand how kids work and they need motivation to practice; example: their grade being effected. We do not like it. This is not a teacher based decision."
This middle school parent agrees: "I have to be honest--if we are battling to get homework done and what we have left is not going to count toward her grade, it's not going to get done."
NO MORE ZEROS
Parents have started asking questions. They have learned that zeros aren't allowed.
GRADES A - F AREN'T FAIR.
They also learned Rockwood is following a recent trend that says traditional letter grades A-F aren't fair because the point system is "skewed."
SKEWED?
Dr. Shelley Willott, Rockwood's Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Support Services, explained:
Dr. Shelley Willott, Rockwood's Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Support Services, explained:
"The purpose behind the 50% for missing work or a failing level of performance is to negate the punitive effect of zeros due to a grading scale that has numerically skewed tiers. Specifically, under the traditional scale, each grade range is separated by 10 points (90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, and so on) except for F's, which constitute a range of 0-59. This makes zeros extremely punitive."
She confirmed zeros are no longer allowed in Rockwood middle schools because they are hard to recover from, which can "demotivate students."FIX THE "F"
Willott says the way to fix the skewed tiers is to make the points range for "F" match the others. That means, instead of the range 0-59, the new range for "F" in middle schools is now 50-59.
In other words, Rockwood just made 50 the new zero.
WHO DECIDED THIS?
Again and again, parents have been told the grading changes are because of a "new policy."
The changes are also attributed to a "new policy" in communication sent to parents. This one, from Selvidge Middle School.
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| Source: Selvidge Middle School mom. Note: The communication only mentions missing assignments. No other grade changes were included. You can see this, in its entirety, at the bottom of this post. |
Administrators tell us it's Rockwood district policy 6450, which was updated this summer. Rockwood's Board of Education voted to approve it on June 22nd.
IT'S NOT IN THERE
But, blaming the policy for the grading changes only led to confusion, because the new grading changes are NOT written anywhere in 6450's policy.
In the separate regulations that correspond to the policy, there is one line about excluding homework from the grade, but the only reference to grading says that "A-F letter grades will be used in grades 6-12."
The policy DOESN'T say 50% is now the lowest grade or that there's a change to the points range for the "F."
This is policy 6450 in its entirety:
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| Final update to Rockwood policy 6450 showing that letter grades A-F will be used in 6th - 12th grades. |
WHY ISN'T IT THERE? DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
Dr. Willott explained: "The 50% minimum and no zeros is not included in regulation (or policy) because it is a practice."
A practice is something decided on by administrators, not the school board. "Administrators."
But, you wouldn't know that from emails and calls with parents. Parents aren't hearing that *administrators* decided to make the minimum grade 50%. They're hearing it's the "policy."
This reply came from a middle school principal: "A recent policy and regulation has been put in place which does stop grades from being marked below a 50%."
THEY NEEDED THE POLICY
Administrators likely keep blaming the "new policy" because they couldn't have made their grading changes without it.
According to Dr. Willott, when policy is approved by the BOE, that sets the direction for what administrators will do.
Next, she says, the Superintendent's Cabinet then makes regulation (rules) that align with that policy, and THEN: "Once the regulation is approved, protocols and practices are put into place that are in alignment with the regulation and policy."
Examples of those protocols and practices are the controversial grading changes we've been talking about.
GIVING THEMSELVES PERMISSION?
Next, she says, the Superintendent's Cabinet then makes regulation (rules) that align with that policy, and THEN: "Once the regulation is approved, protocols and practices are put into place that are in alignment with the regulation and policy."
Examples of those protocols and practices are the controversial grading changes we've been talking about.
GIVING THEMSELVES PERMISSION?
All of this sounds like administrators are simply doing what the BOE's "direction" says they should do.
In reality, administrators are the ones who set the "direction."
Records show, they are the ones who wrote the policy they're blaming.
THE POLICY CAME FROM ADMINISTRATORS
Records show:
Records show, they are the ones who wrote the policy they're blaming.
THE POLICY CAME FROM ADMINISTRATORS
Records show:
*Dr. Shelley Willott requested the update to policy 6450.
*Willott also suggested the updated language that's now in the policy.
*And, Dr. Willott is also on the Superintendent's Cabinet, which is responsible for regulation 6450....that she says led to the new grading practices.
THE DOCUMENTS
Here's the official policy update request that Willott submitted. Below that is the "revised redline" form showing her "suggested" language. Below that is the official, updated Policy 6450, with Willott's requested language.
THE DOCUMENTS
Here's the official policy update request that Willott submitted. Below that is the "revised redline" form showing her "suggested" language. Below that is the official, updated Policy 6450, with Willott's requested language.
These are all documents that are available to the public.
Willott's request to update: Her suggested updated language didn't include anything about a 50% minimum grade rule.
"Revised redline:" This is where you see her wording suggestions are actually being added to the policy.
The new official Policy 6450: It has her same language, which never included anything about the 50% minimum grade rule.
PARTY LINE
The party line from Rockwood administrators continues to be that the new 2023-2024 grading practices "are in alignment with grading and reporting philosophy outlined in Policy and Regulation 6450."
Reply from Jaime Bayes, President of Rockwood's Board of Education
BoardDocs includes the information we've been showing you. It's public information online, that details district policies and items on meeting agendas.
WHAT'S ON BOARDDOCS?
The same four things we mentioned above are on BoardDocs: 6450's, updated policy, its corresponding regulation, Willott's request to update 6450, and the words they deleted and added.
NOT IN ANY OF THEM
As we stated above, none of those documents say anything about the grading changes.
6450 was mixed in with 48 other consent agenda items that night (that included mundane tasks such as disposal of "obsolete trombones.") They were all unanimously approved by the BOE, all at the same time, all with one vote.
THEY RUSHED IT THROUGH
Not only was there no discussion about 6450 and the 50% minimum grade that night, administrators ensured there would be no discussion about it on any other night.
Note the red circle above. It says "PIN/First/Second Readings. "Rockwood policy 0510 says policies will be presented to the Board of Education THREE times in open session before they are adopted.
June 22nd was the FIRST time. It was adopted anyway.
To get around the three times rule, administrators requested to "forego" the standard process.
KEPT IN THE DARK?
The 50% minimum grade "practice" couldn't have happened without BOE directors' approval of the policy update, but, it appears no one told them what changes their approval would lead to.
SOME PEOPLE KNEW
We should point out, Dr. Willott says a collaborative group of administrators and teachers started discussing the changes last year, after reviewing student achievement data and analyzing research.
NOT JUST ROCKWOOD
School districts around the state and the country have adopted similar 50% minimum grading policies.
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| Dr. Willott's request to update Policy 6450. Note: Although it specifies administrators will make rules related to grading practices (changes), no actual grading practices are listed. |
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| This is the"redline revise" document that shows wording they are actually adding, deleting, or changing to Policy 6450 (seen in red). Again, Willott's suggested language. Note: Rockwood has a Policy Review committee that also signs off on policies. |
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| Current Policy 6450, that was approved by the Board of Education on June 22nd. Willott's suggested language is now in the official policy. Note: "Multiple methods of assessment" is a carryover from a 2019 request to allow final projects instead of final exams. Also note: Willott says the designee line is just a clarification also seen in other policy. |
The party line from Rockwood administrators continues to be that the new 2023-2024 grading practices "are in alignment with grading and reporting philosophy outlined in Policy and Regulation 6450."
That's true. Because they wrote both of them.
STANDARD PROCEDURE LACKS TRANSPARENCY. TIME FOR A CHANGE?
This policy/regulation/practice process has been in place since at least November, 2011, according to (Policy 0510).
STANDARD PROCEDURE LACKS TRANSPARENCY. TIME FOR A CHANGE?
This policy/regulation/practice process has been in place since at least November, 2011, according to (Policy 0510).
Since then, administrators have made several significant and/or controversial changes in "practices" that dictate what and how students are learning. (Including topics pertaining to race and gender.)
Outside of committees, the vast majority of parents and taxpayers have no input on what "practices" BOE votes will ultimately lead to. The vast majority of parents didn't know about this year's new grading "practices" until the BOE vote already happened.
And, they can't read about them even now, in publicly available documents. Because, as we said above, that information isn't in them.
Which brings us back to Rockwood's Board of Education (BOE).
DID THE BOE DIRECTORS KNOW?
We asked the school board directors if they knew their vote on Policy 6450 would lead to the grading changes.
WON'T SAY
We had to email them twice, over 8 days, to get a response. When asked whether school board directors knew their vote would lead to the 50% minimum grade rule, Board President (and spokesperson) Jaime Bayes never said yes or no.
She only said that what they review (before voting) is on BoardDocs.
Outside of committees, the vast majority of parents and taxpayers have no input on what "practices" BOE votes will ultimately lead to. The vast majority of parents didn't know about this year's new grading "practices" until the BOE vote already happened.
And, they can't read about them even now, in publicly available documents. Because, as we said above, that information isn't in them.
Which brings us back to Rockwood's Board of Education (BOE).
DID THE BOE DIRECTORS KNOW?
We asked the school board directors if they knew their vote on Policy 6450 would lead to the grading changes.
WON'T SAY
We had to email them twice, over 8 days, to get a response. When asked whether school board directors knew their vote would lead to the 50% minimum grade rule, Board President (and spokesperson) Jaime Bayes never said yes or no.
She only said that what they review (before voting) is on BoardDocs.
Reply from Jaime Bayes, President of Rockwood's Board of Education
BoardDocs includes the information we've been showing you. It's public information online, that details district policies and items on meeting agendas.
WHAT'S ON BOARDDOCS?
The same four things we mentioned above are on BoardDocs: 6450's, updated policy, its corresponding regulation, Willott's request to update 6450, and the words they deleted and added.
NOT IN ANY OF THEM
As we stated above, none of those documents say anything about the grading changes.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR THE BOE TO VOTE.
When it came time for the BOE to vote on Policy 6450 on June 22nd, you can see in the the video of the meeting (around 27:40) that none of the 7 BOE directors asked any questions about it, there was no discussion about it, or its intended grading practices. 6450 wasn't even named.
BURIED IN CONSENT AGENDA
That is likely because administrators placed 6450 where it would not require BOE attention or discussion. It was on the agenda as a "consent agenda item." Consent agenda items are considered already researched, and approving them is almost a formality.
BURIED IN CONSENT AGENDA
That is likely because administrators placed 6450 where it would not require BOE attention or discussion. It was on the agenda as a "consent agenda item." Consent agenda items are considered already researched, and approving them is almost a formality.
6450 was mixed in with 48 other consent agenda items that night (that included mundane tasks such as disposal of "obsolete trombones.") They were all unanimously approved by the BOE, all at the same time, all with one vote.
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| As seen on the June 22, 2023 BOE agenda. |
THEY RUSHED IT THROUGH
Not only was there no discussion about 6450 and the 50% minimum grade that night, administrators ensured there would be no discussion about it on any other night.
Note the red circle above. It says "PIN/First/Second Readings. "Rockwood policy 0510 says policies will be presented to the Board of Education THREE times in open session before they are adopted.
June 22nd was the FIRST time. It was adopted anyway.
To get around the three times rule, administrators requested to "forego" the standard process.
KEPT IN THE DARK?
The 50% minimum grade "practice" couldn't have happened without BOE directors' approval of the policy update, but, it appears no one told them what changes their approval would lead to.
WOULD IT HAVE MATTERED?
For the record, we asked all 7 BOE directors if they would have voted yes, if they knew it would lead to the grading changes.
As Board spokesperson, only President Bayes responded. She never answered that question.
For the record, we asked all 7 BOE directors if they would have voted yes, if they knew it would lead to the grading changes.
As Board spokesperson, only President Bayes responded. She never answered that question.
We should point out, Dr. Willott says a collaborative group of administrators and teachers started discussing the changes last year, after reviewing student achievement data and analyzing research.
Other parents learned early on about the changes, during a district curriculum review session. On social media, they expressed support for the changes, in part, because they were told teachers will use Academic Lab time (study hall) to work with students to get them to turn in the missing assignments, rather than getting points and never doing the work.
NOT JUST ROCKWOOD
School districts around the state and the country have adopted similar 50% minimum grading policies.
Fairfax County, Virginia is one of them. But, as this article explains, after getting feedback, it recently stopped its no zeros policy for work that's not turned in.
PROFICIENCY/PERFORMANCE
Whether you like Rockwood's new grading practices or not, it's clear SOMEthing needs to be done. The chart below shows the percentages of Rockwood middle school students that scored proficient or above on standardized MAP tests in 2022.
MATH
6th grade math: 58.5%
7th grade math: 52.2%
8th grade math: 25.8%
ELA
6th grade: 56.2%
7th grade: 56.3%
8th grade: 61.7%
SCIENCE
8th grade: 56.8%
(6th and 7th graders don't take Science MAP tests.)
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THE COMPLETE MESSAGE TO PARENTS ABOUT THE GRADING CHANGES:
WAITING FOR A REPLY
We asked Dr. Willott why Rockwood isn't being more direct about administrators' involvement in the grading changes. We will update if she replies.
PROFICIENCY/PERFORMANCE
Whether you like Rockwood's new grading practices or not, it's clear SOMEthing needs to be done. The chart below shows the percentages of Rockwood middle school students that scored proficient or above on standardized MAP tests in 2022.
Note: Only 1 category is higher than the 50% range.
6th grade math: 58.5%
7th grade math: 52.2%
8th grade math: 25.8%
ELA
6th grade: 56.2%
7th grade: 56.3%
8th grade: 61.7%
SCIENCE
8th grade: 56.8%
(6th and 7th graders don't take Science MAP tests.)
THE COMPLETE MESSAGE TO PARENTS ABOUT THE GRADING CHANGES:
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| As seen on Parent Square Source: Selvidge middle school mom. |
