The Board of Trustees believes that grades serve a valuable instructional purpose by helping students and parents/guardians understand performance expectations and identifying the student's areas of strength and those areas needing improvement. Parents/guardians and students have the right to receive course grades that represent an accurate evaluation of the student's achievement.
(cf. 5020 - Parent Rights and Responsibilities)
(cf. 5125.2 - Withholding Grades, Diploma or Transcripts)
The Superintendent or designee shall establish a uniform grading system based on standards that apply to all students in that course and grade level. Principals and teachers shall ensure that student grades conform to this system. Teachers shall inform students and parents/guardians how student achievement will be evaluated in the classroom.
A teacher shall base a student's grades on impartial, consistent observation of the quality of the student's work and his/her mastery of course content and district standards. Students shall have the opportunity to demonstrate this mastery through a variety of methods such as classroom participation, homework, tests, and portfolios.
(cf. 6011 - Academic Standards)
(cf. 6162.5 - Student Assessment)
The teacher of each course shall determine the student's grade. The grade assigned by the teacher shall not be changed by the Board or the Superintendent except as provided by law, Board policy, or administrative regulation. (Education Code 49066)
(cf. 5125.3 - Challenging Student Records)
Students in grades K-5 shall receive progress reports toward standards rather than letters grades..
When reporting student performance to parents/guardians, teachers may add narrative descriptions, observational notes, and/or samples of classroom work in order to better describe student progress in specific skills and subcategories of achievement.
A report card for a student with a disability may contain information about his/her disability, including whether that student received special education or related services, provided that the report card informs parents/guardians about their child's progress or level of achievement in specific classes, course content, or curriculum. However, transcripts that may be used to inform postsecondary institutions or prospective employers of the student's academic achievements shall not contain information disclosing the student's disability.
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
(cf. 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504)
Effect of Absences on Grades
If a student misses class without an excuse and does not subsequently turn in homework, take a test, or fulfill another class requirement which he/she missed, the teacher may lower the student's grade for nonperformance.
(cf. 6154 - Homework/Makeup Work)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
41505-41508 Pupil Retention Block Grant
48070 Promotion and retention
48205 Excused absences
48800-48802 Enrollment of gifted students in community college
48904-48904.3 Withholding grades, diplomas, or transcripts
49066 Grades; finalization; physical education class
49067 Mandated regulations regarding student's achievement
49069.5 Students in foster care, grades and credits
51242 Exemption from physical education based on participation in interscholastic athletics
76000-76002 Enrollment in community college
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
10060 Criteria for reporting physical education achievement, high schools
30008 Definition of high school grade point average for student aid eligibility
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1232g Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
6101-6251 School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
99.1-99.67 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
COURT DECISIONS
Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo, (2002) 534 U.S. 426
Las Virgenes Educators Association v. Las Virgenes Unified School District, (2001) 86 Cal.App.4th 1
Swany v. San Ramon Valley Unified School District, (1989) 720 F.Supp. 764
Johnson v. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 593
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Aiming High: High Schools for the 21st Century, 2002
Taking Center Stage: A Commitment to Standards-Based Education for California's Middle Grades Students, 2001
Elementary Makes the Grade!, 2000
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS CORRESPONDENCE
Report Cards and Transcripts for Students with Disabilities, October 17, 2008
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
California Student Aid Commission: http://www.csac.ca.gov
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr
Policy ROSS VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: April 6, 2012 San Anselmo, California