The statewide closure has prompted school districts across the state to adjust their criteria for fourth-quarter grading of students.

Beaufort County School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez consulted extensively with district teachers and principals in developing revised grading criteria to assess student performance for the fourth quarter. A brief summary of those grade-specific criteria follows.

<b>PreK-Kindergarten</b>

PreK-Kindergarten students will receive progress reports at the end of the school year that summarize what they are doing well and where they need to improve. These progress reports will take into account work the students did prior to the statewide school shutdown as well as work they did at home after the shutdown.

Work done after schools were closed will be graded for student engagement only, although teachers will be able to use their end-of-the-year progress reports to help students better understand the material.

<b>Grades 1-5</b>

Grades for at-home learning for grades 1-5 will measure student engagement based on completion of assignments (online or work packets), participation in online classes or phone calls with teachers. Students will receive numeric engagement grades in three categories: Meets Expectations (100), Approaches Expectations (85) and Does Not Meet Expectations (70).

Many students who perform well under normal circumstances may find it difficult to learn without in-person access to their teachers.

Learning at home during the shutdown has been an additional struggle for students whose families aren’t capable of supporting their academic work. Teachers will take such extenuating circumstances into consideration with their grading.

While parents should do their best to help students complete their assignments, in some cases it may not be possible to complete all work. Students will receive credit if they attempt to do the work, and teachers will assign grades based on their assessments of students’ engagement. Teachers may ask students to revise and improve their at-home assignments.

<b>Middle and High&nbsp;School Students</b>

The South Carolina Department of Education has directed that rather than receiving separate grades for the third and fourth quarters, students in grades 6-12 will receive a single second semester grade combining work completed before the school shutdown with student engagement at home while schools were closed. At-home learning grades will measure student engagement based on completion of assignments (online or work packets), participation in online classes or phone calls with teachers.

Middle and high school students will receive numeric engagement grades in four categories: Meets Expectations (100), Approaches Expectations (85), Does Not Meet Expectations (70) and Work Not Submitted (50).

Many students who perform well under normal circumstances find it difficult to learn without in-person access to their teachers. Learning at home during the shutdown has been an additional struggle for students whose families aren’t capable of supporting their academic work. Teachers will take such extenuating circumstances into consideration with their grading.

While parents should do their best to help students complete their assignments, in some cases it may not be possible to complete all work. Students will receive credit if they attempt to do the work, and teachers will assign grades based on their assessments of students’ engagement. Teachers may ask students to revise and improve their at-home assignments.

<b>Seniors</b>

The South Carolina Department of Education has directed that high school seniors will need to have all work completed by May 15, and teachers will ensure that senior curricula have been completed by that deadline. The school district is considering possible ways to celebrate graduation if schools remain closed and social distancing requirements remain in place.

<b>AP</b><b>, IB, Dual Credit, and Quarter Classes (Block Schedules)</b>

Students taking Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Dual Credit courses will be graded using traditional methods because these courses carry potential college credit. Students should talk with their teachers for specifics on grading and course expectations during the shutdown.

Schools on block schedules have several classes that started right at the closure. Teachers of these courses introduced new content and will grade students as they normally would so there are enough assignments to justify a grade. Economics and Government is typically a senior-level class. Because seniors now must complete all work by May 15, that course’s curriculum has been adjusted so students can complete the content.