Island Park school officials propose new grading policies, outline remote learning plan

With schools closed through at least May 15, Island Park School District officials are proposing emergency grading policies for the final quarter of the school year.

The new grading criteria would take into consideration the challenges of remote learning and difficulties families could be facing during the coronavirus pandemic. The guidelines would be implemented “when school closure results in distance learning for an entire marking period,” school officials stated.

“[Grading] is intended to be helpful to parents and supportive of students,” Assistant Superintendent Vincent Randazzo said during a virtual Board of Education meeting on April 21. “Students’ grades will not be penalized by the loss of in-class learning days, nor will they be inflated because of it.”

For Francis X. Hegarty students, there would be no number grades for a marking period entirely consisting of remote learning — “The report card will remain blank in the standards-based boxes that typically indicate a 1-4 level,” the district’s proposed plan reads.

Teachers would instead write comments explaining the students’ status on remote learning, as well as the typical comments on work habits and effort. These grades would not be used when considering students for the Discovery program.

For Lincoln Orens Middle School students, teachers would practice a “do no harm” philosophy of grading, Randazzo said. Students will still earn grades, however, if that grade is lower than the student’s previous grades in all school periods, they will receive a “no mark,” or “NM.”

“Comments by the teacher to the parent will explain the NM grade,” Randazzo said. “NMs, however, will not be averaged into the final grade.”

As with the elementary school, work habits and effort would be calculated as usual, and the report card would not be used to disqualify students for the Discovery program, Regents classes, Honor Roll, High Honor Roll or National Junior Honor Society. 

In addition, Superintendent Dr. Rosmarie Bovino outlined phase two of the district’s “Continuity of Learning” plan during the virtual board meeting. The plan focuses on keeping students connected with their teachers and peers.

“We know that teacher contact with children and social interaction among students are critical to students’ happiness, well-being, and success with new learning,” Bovino said. “Hence we will think creatively about how we can make this happen.”

Bovino said administrators would speak with teachers, who would create their own lessons based on the district-wide goals. For students in Pre-K and Kindergarten, teachers opted for pencil-and-paper learning with parental support to promote students’ ongoing motor skill development. In grades 1 to 4, there are pencil-and-paper assignments coupled with digital activities.

For grades 5 through 8, the district has set forth a Chromebook Initiative, in which students connect and complete assignments through Google platforms, such as Google Meet and Google Classrooms.

For the district’s complete Continuity of Learning plan and grading proposals, click here.