School Officials Seek Residents’ Input on Grading Policy

Changes are on the way to Montgomery County Public Schools.

MCPS Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers proposed a plan to discontinue “two-hour semester final exams in high school courses next school year (2016-2017) and replace them with centrally developed marking period assessments.”

The Montgomery County Board of Education endorsed Bower’s proposal and on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the board voted to eliminate the two-hour semester-end exams and replace them with assessments such as essays, portfolios, projects, and tests.

Now, school officials are seeking public’s input on proposed revisions on the county’s policy on grading, and different options to calculate final grades.

School officials said the board considered these changes after hearing from parents and community members who were interested in reducing the amount of test in order to maximize instructional time.

Input can be submitted by email to boe@mcpsmd.org or by mail to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 122, Rockville, MD 20850.

To read more about grading policy and MCPS assessment strategy, click here.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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