Montgomery Blair High School PTSA

Minutes of PTSA Meeting --- December 06, 2004

Next PTSA Meeting: January 18th

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In attendance were approximately 75-90 people.

Fran Rothstein introduced the panel and thanked Bonnie Malkin for all her efforts in planning this program.  The panelists included Betsy Brown, MCPS Director of Curriculum; Shirley Brandman, MCCPTA Vice President for Educational Issues; Jennifer Craft, Staff Development staff and Chairperson of Blair's Faculty Committee for Implementation of the new grading policy;
and Judy Smith, long time English teacher, member of the Faculty Committee for Implementation and a member of the Teacher's Union.

MR. GAINOUS' REPORT ON THE NEW GRADING POLICY

When the new policy came into play, the high school principals chose not to participate in the policy development.  The result was a policy that was flawed.  Right now the high schools are taking the year to gradually implement the new policy and the principal are meeting to form their own implementation plans as a group.  Mr. Gainous is not as troubled  because principals are participating in this part of the decision making.

BETSY BROWN'S PRESENTATION

1.  What is the problem that it had to be fixed?  The board became aware that grades were not consistent across the county.  For instance in some schools, 39% correct answers on the countywide algebra test was considered passing and in other schools 65%.  The board wanted the grades to reflect the curriculum.  Also in many cases students would do well in elementary school and middle school and then struggle in high school.  The board was also interested in improving communication with parents and students and getting information early.  The last policy developed was in 1986 and that policy was largely ignored.

2.  The board began with a committee of stakeholders that met for 1 year. Another committee with a totally different group was formed for the next year.  The result was a policy that is 3 pages long, broad in its breadth and philosophical.  There is little in it that anyone would disagree with. Its main thrust is that grades reflect academic achievement.   It was sent to the Board in January, 2003 for revisions and was unanimously approved in March, 2003.

3.  Last year there was an attempt to implement the policy across the board but it failed.   In January, 2004 the board went back to the drawing board and chose a slower, more planful implementation.  In May, 2004 the Board felt that the schools were ready except the high schools.  They looked at what's required that is consistent with  previous policies.  Some of the discussion was around late work, reassessment and reteaching.

SHIRLEY BRANDMAN'S PRESENTATION

1.  The MCCPTA Grading and Reporting Committee meets monthly.  Right now 2 high schools are piloting the new policy, Seneca Valley and Walther Johnson. Departments within schools may be implementing the policy differently.  The committee is committed to communicating to the Board what the concerns of parents are.  They have decided to send letters to the board on a regular
basis.  All are welcome to attend the meetings.  Some of the concerns are the reteaching and reassessing issues and its inconsistency in how it is implemented as well as how consistent it is from school to school.

JENNIFER CRAFT'S  PRESENTATION

1.  The Blair Implementation committee meets twice a month.  They are trying to look at how  the requirements are being implemented and how consistent they are within Blair.  There has been lots of discussion about standards within the school, grading and homework.

2.  Student achievement and how it plays out in the classroom, how to be consistent and how it can be reflected has been of concern.

JUDY SMITH'S PRESENTATION

1.  As an English teacher Ms. Smith is particularly concerned how papers are treated and how reading can be measured.  Those students who are not enthusiastic learners are at particular risk under the new system.  The burden to grade ALL homework and work is incredible.  It is like the new system will discourage homework rather than encourage it.

2.  Because of the new grading system and the nature of an English class, there will be more of a tendency to do nothing amongst less than enthusiastic learners.  Papers are ususally 50% of a grade with there being 2 papers a marking period.

3.  If English teachers each got a composition assistant, this might help to alleviate the enormous burden on teachers who need to teach students how to write.  The new policy does not lend itself easily to English in particular and is in opposition to State requirements.

Question and Answer Period.

1.  Homework was a big topic.  Betsy Brown answered the first question on homework. What is the academic meaning of a grade?  It should not reflect behavior,  attitude, or task completion.  Teachers should give meaningful homework for practice and skill building. There should be a grade after skill building and the homework should be recorded and reviewed so that students get feedback.  Homework can be scanned to see which skills as a group require more teaching.  Theoretically Thursday's homework should mirror the homework of the previous days which would be the practice.  There are also ways to assess reading assignments by giving quizzes.

2.What is the motivation for homework?  Students are going to test the system.The must see the connection between homework and performance.

3.  If the tests don't measure up for assessment, then the material needs to be retaught.  How does this play out in reality?  What are teachers supposed to do in regard to those who do measure up?  How are they supposed to have time to teach the curriculum if they are always reteaching? This question was never addressed.

4.  It is yet to be determined how this policy will converge with the No Child Left Behind law.

Shirley Brandman addressed the group again as she had to leave. It seems clear to her working
committee that parents, teachers and students don't seem to be convinced of this new policy.
MCCPTA will continue to represent parents and teachers.  The committee's goal is not to convince the members that adopting the policy is ok.  The Board adopted the policy and didn't know how it would play out.  There are lots of questions now because implementing the policy creates lots of questions.  The committee will continue to meet monthly and welcomes everyone.  The schedule is on the website.

Betsy Brown  addressed the group again also.

Why now?  5-6 years ago the Board started looking at the policy.  Now we have state and county
and national standards.  There is a need to know where in the process students are not achieving. The main difference in the last policy and this policy is in the level of expectations.  In the past teachers would expect different things of different students.  Now
expectations for all students are the same.  The standard based report cards will eventually have more details and will be related to standards.

The scales with 50% being the lowest possible grade is in increments and prevents a student from being able to recoup if they have only one or two bad grades in a semester. For instance, if a student got a 0 in the old system, it would take 9 100s to get an A.  This way one failing grade will not change the letter grade too much.  There will be a formal evaluation of the policy over a 7 year period.

Concern for transcripts to colleges were voiced as it appears that it is harder to get an A under this system.  The board is considering sending a letter with a transcript to the various colleges.  This policy is being adopted in other states and school districts.  The goal is to improve teaching and learning.  Next year the meaning of a grade will be tied to academic achievement.

Mr. Gainous spoke.  He knew that this new policy would be contentious.  This year Blair has acted on the recommended items that the board put out for high schools.  The policy is driven by consistency and Blair has strived for consistency by department and subject.  Some teachers are experimenting with the new policy to see how it would play out.  The teachers are just beginning to have discussions.  People are feeling demoralized and anxious which is part of the process.

People are generally concerned about how teachers are being guided to implement the new policy, how their children understand the policy in view of the fact that some teachers are implementing some part of it and some are not, and how this will be played out in their child's GPA, and what the range of grades will be.

The meeting closed at about 9:45.

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