Lowered Expectations

Key points in DISD's new grading policy:

The Dallas Independent School District will distribute new grading guidelines when teachers return to their campuses this week. School officials said the guidelines are needed to ensure that all district teachers operate under the same rules and to create a "fair system" for grading students.

• Homework grades should be given only when the grades will "raise a student's average, not lower it."

• Teachers must accept overdue assignments, and their principal will decide whether students are to be penalized for missing deadlines.

• Students who flunk tests can retake the exam and keep the higher grade.

• Teachers cannot give a zero on an assignment unless they call parents and make "efforts to assist students in completing the work."


SOURCE: Dallas Independent School District records