ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

The philosophy of the School Committee concerning children’s academic achievement and social growth and development is based on the premise that children have diverse capabilities and individual patterns of growth and learning.

Therefore, teachers should have sufficient and accurate knowledge of each student in order to assess his/her needs and growth and make instructional plans for him/her. Sharing of information among families, teachers, and the student is essential.

The Committee supports staff efforts to find better ways to measure and report student progress. It will require that:

1. Parents/guardians are informed regularly, at least three times per year in grades PK-5 and four times per year in grades 6-12, of the progress their children are making in school. In addition, student progress can be accessed through the online student information system throughout the year.

2. Parents/guardians will be alerted and conferred with as soon as possible when a child's performance or learning behavior becomes unsatisfactory or shows marked or sudden deterioration.

3. Insofar as possible, distinctions will be made between a student's learning behavior and their academic performance.

4. At comparable levels, the school system will strive for consistency in grading and reporting except as this is inappropriate for certain classes or certain students.

5. When no grades are given but the student is evaluated informally in terms of his/her own progress, the school staff will also provide a realistic appraisal of the student's standing in relation to his/her peers.

6. When grades are given, the school staff will take particular care to explain the meaning of marks and symbols to parents.

SOURCE: MASC

ADOPTED: September 20, 2021