New year means longer grading periods in Monroe schools

Monroe City Schools' new nine-week grading policy for elementary schools has some school officials worried that parents may be caught by surprise when grades come out on Oct 23.

Elementary schools in Monroe City will join junior high schools and high schools on the nine-week grading schedule for the first time this school year to standardize grading across the district.

J.S. Clark Magnet School program coordinator Susan Cole says teachers fear some parents won't realize their students are in academic trouble until its nearly too late to correct it.

"Under the six-week grading system, we sent home progress reports at the three-week mark, so essentially we were in touch with parents every three weeks all year long in addition to weekly grades," she said. "With the nine-week grading period, progress reports won't go out until 4.5 weeks."

Cypress Point University Elementary School principal Ann Cook is a supporter of the new grading system.

"The English language arts curriculum provided by the Louisiana Department of Education that fourth- through sixth-graders will be using is based on a nine-week grading period," she said. "It was going to be a real task to convert that to six-week grading periods."

Cook said the longer grading periods make it easier for parents because report cards for students in all grade levels will come home at the same time.

"We all have parent conferences on the same night," she said. "We all get report cards together and progress reports go out at the same time."

Cole fears the four grading periods — as opposed to six under the six-week plan — won't give elementary students time to make up for a weak grade.

"Elementary parents are so concerned about their children day to day and we want them to be," she said. "But often, it's not until the report card goes home with a letter grade on it that parents fully understand their student's academic circumstances."

Cole and Cook said there will be an increased emphasis on parent communication across the district as the system goes into place.

Teachers are encouraged to touch base frequently with parents with concerns or with good news. Parents also are asked to call teachers or administrators with questions.

"This puts a lot of responsibility on the parent to keep an eye on what's going on with their students," board president Clarence Sharp said.

Parents may monitor student grades at any time through the district's Parent Command Center. Details are provided on each school's website and on the district website at mcschools.net

Ouachita Parish Schools Assistant Superintendent Don Coker said Ouachita has discussed several times converting to the nine-week grading system, but the district has not voted on the change.

He said high schools would more likely be in favor of the nine-week grading period but the elementary representatives have been opposed.

"The reasoning was that students' progress (through report cards) to parents/guardians would be more beneficial when given six times per year as opposed to four times," he said.

"I realize that with the nine-week grading schedule, progress reports are sent home mid-nine-weeks, and students may have a longer time to bring up a low grade, but the elementary schools believe providing more frequent information to our parents is more beneficial to their students' needs."

Follow Barbara Leader on Twitter @barbaraleader1.