The district/campus can define multiple policies or a single policy for a campus schedule to meet the district grading policy needs. With mandated policies, teachers have no ability to edit or change the policy settings, but they can begin adding assignments immediately.
If a grading policy is to be partially or completely based on skills, you must first create the skill sets.
Click here for more information about district- vs. teacher-created grading policies.
Select Students from the Jump to Module pull-down list in the upper right corner.
Select Schedule Manager from the Scheduling menu, and that window opens.
Click the icon for the campus for which you want to define a policy, and the Edit Schedule window opens.
Click on the Policies tab, then Add Grading Policy. A window opens allowing you to define the policy.
Complete the Global Grading Policies fields as described. Required fields are marked with a red asterisk.
Name*: Enter the label that will be displayed on the Assignment tab. If using multiple policies, we recommend that you assign a name that indicates either the course area — e.g. Math, ELA, Art, Specials — or the course level — e.g. Elem, MS, HS, Honors, Beginner, Advanced.
Grading Strategy*: This selection determines whether grades are based on assignments, skills, or a combination of both.
Assignment Based: Grades are based on assignments added to each course/section.
Skills Based: Grades are based on skills defined in the Schedule Manager > Skill Sets tab. It's generally used for pre-K & kindergarten students.
Hybrid: Utilizes both skills and assignment-based grades. Both are shown on the report card, but averages are determined by assignment grades. One situation in which a campus might use this option would be for higher level language classes, where teachers want to indicate both a student's proficiency in speaking and grades on assignments.
Complete the Assignment Based Policy Attributes if you selected either Assignment Based or Hybrid in step 5. Otherwise skip to step 11.
Grading Scheme*: Defaults to Numeric Averages; but you may select from either Points Based or other options created by the administrator in Grades > Setup > Grading Schemes.
Default Cz Code: Select from None, E, S, N, or U. If a code is selected, it will be the default citizenship grade for all students in the courses associated with this grading policy. The default can be edited by the teacher for individual students.
Term Exam Weight: Enter the percentage of the term grade assigned to the term exam. If left blank, term exam scores aren't allowed.
Total Drops: Enter the total number of drops allowed. If less than the sum of category drops, student advantage dropping will apply.
Extra Credit: Enter the limit of extra credit assignments allowed. If left blank, no limit is imposed on extra credit.
Available Modifiers: Check the appropriate box(es) to designate the codes that can be used to stand in place of a traditional grade. Modifiers are set up in Grades > Set Up > Grade Modifiers.
Click Add Category.
Complete the Category fields as described. Note: The sum of category weights must equal 100. Any category that isn't used in the course won't be averaged and therefore won't impact the students' grades.
Name: Enter the name that will be displayed when entering assignments. The category name is also visible on the Grade Book > Grades tab and in the Parent Portal.
Weight: Enter the percentage of the grade to be earned in this category.
Drops: Enter the number of grades in this category that can be dropped. If Total Drops is set to zero, no grades will be dropped, regardless of the number of drops specified in the category.
Repeat steps 7-8 until you've entered all categories for this policy.
Select the Applicable Courses for this grading policy by checking the boxes. Note: All courses listed on the Schedule Manager > Offering tab will be included. If new offerings are added after a policy is created, you must manually associate the new courses with an existing policy or create a new policy.
Complete the Skills Based Policy Attributes if you selected either Skills Based or Hybrid in step 5.
Skill Set*: Select from the options added in Schedule Manager > Skill Sets.
Primary Skills Grading Scheme*: Select from the grading schemes set up in Grades > Set Up > Grading Schemes.
Alternate Grading Scheme*: Defaults to Not Applicable. Select from one of the grading schemes if some of the skills in the skill set were designated to use an alternate grading scheme.
Click Save. Sample Assignment Based Grading Policy Sample Skills Based Grading Policy
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