We awaited guidance from the California Department of Education to make sure that our guidelines were in line with its recommendation.
Our interest was, and is, to thoughtfully consider the policies we put into place as they may be necessary beyond the current closure. So, even as we work through the immediate concerns with teaching and learning, we have also been working on issues with long-term consequences such as grades.
Below are the guidelines we developed in cooperation with the Monrovia Teachers Association.
Our interest was, and is, to thoughtfully consider the policies we put into place as they may be necessary beyond the current closure. So, even as we work through the immediate concerns with teaching and learning, we have also been working on issues with long-term consequences such as grades.
Below are the guidelines we developed in cooperation with the Monrovia Teachers Association.
Elementary Grading Practices
Grades are to be assigned and feedback given for work completed. Since elementary report cards are standards-based, as teachers develop and teach standards-based lessons, feedback is to be given and data collected on gains made toward standards mastery. As work is assessed and feedback given, a student may improve his/her grade.For the final report cards, grades TK-3 will be provided specific comments that communicate the success on the standards learned. For grades 4 and 5, teachers will give comments and assign standards-based scores on the most essential standard areas. Where applicable, teachers may use the comment “standard not taught or assessed.”
Secondary Grading Practices
Students will be assigned work aligned to the state standards during this quarter, focusing on projects and work that can be completed online. As work is assessed and feedback given, a student may improve his/her grade for a final semester grade.- Third quarter grades should be used as a baseline. No student’s final grade will be lower than the grade assigned at the third quarter. This is an opportunity for our students to improve.
- The assigned and graded work from March 17 to June 3 will be used to maintain and improve the student’s status from the third quarter.
- Students may opt for a credit/no credit grading option until May 15. After that date, a student may submit an appeal letter to the instructor, who will submit the letter with his/her recommendation to the school principal.
Please know that additional refinement of school policies and procedures will be developed and communicated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We recognize that students and families are facing unique circumstances brought about by the health crisis, safer-at-home directives, and school facility closures, and that these home-life circumstances may make school performance and achievement at previous levels difficult.
Now, more than ever, it is critical that all members of the Monrovia Unified family continue to band together to ensure student success. Please communicate with us if you are experiencing challenges with distance learning so that, together, we can work to ensure your child’s success in these unprecedented times. If you have a family situation which requires special considerations, please reach out to your child’s teachers and the school principal to share information, ask questions, or to request additional support.
While the health and safety of our students, staff, and families remains our highest priority, we remain steadfast in our mission to educate the children of Monrovia.
I encourage our families to tune in to Conversations with Ralph Walker at 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday. The show airs on YouTube and features Board of Education President Rob Hammond and Mayor Tom Adams, who share the latest local updates on COVID-19. Please submit questions to [email protected] or by calling (626) 357-4974.
We will continue to provide you with updated information as we receive it. More can be found on our website. Pre-recorded messages are regularly updated at (626) 471-2084.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Thorossian
Superintendent