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Part III Chapter 6: |
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Bloomington High School grades according to the mastery-learning concept. An earned credit represents mastery of all significant course outcomes. A student who does not demonstrate mastery of the significant course outcomes is not awarded credit simply because the overall average is passing. In cases where a student has not demonstrated mastery of a significant course outcome as evidenced by performance on a test, project, or series of graded activities, the student and parent will be notified in writing of the specific items to be mastered and the specific deadline by which the student must show mastery (typically 2 weeks after notification). The notice will also specify the consequences if the student not demonstrate mastery by the deadline. A grade of “LC” on a progress report will meet the requirement. The teacher will be expected to give to the student specific items needing to be completed at the time the progress reports are marked. The teacher must provide this written notice to the student and it will be the student’s responsibility to deliver this to the parent. Mastery may be demonstrated by retests, taking a different test, completion or resubmission of assignments, or alternative demonstrations of mastery. The typical period of time would be approximately two weeks during which the student would be expected to see the teacher during this period for help as needed.
If the student succeeds in demonstrating mastery, the teacher may replace the original grade with a higher grade in accordance with the teacher’s grading policy. Makeup work for an unapproved absence or failure to turn in an assignment on time would not normally count higher than a “D”. Cases resulting from cheating would normally retain the original failing grade. In these cases, the subsequent demonstration of mastery would permit the student to pass the course as a whole, provided the overall average was passing.
Failure to demonstrate mastery of a significant course outcome by the written deadline will be grounds for failure for the quarter, in more serious situations, reduction in the semester average, and in the most serious situations, the semester course.
It should be noted that many courses have a culminating activity, such as a major paper, which occur at the end of a course, for which it is impossible to afford a student additional time. Such assignments are indicted in written guidelines provided to students at the start of a course. A student who fails to turn in such a project, or whose work does not demonstrate mastery may receive an “F” for the quarter, or forfeit credit for the course in accordance with the written guidelines provided to the student at the start of the course.
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