Bill Text: MS HB269 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: "Truth in Grading Act"; create to require the State Board of Education to adopt a uniform grading policy for the state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Failed) 2011-02-01 - Died In Committee [HB269 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-HB269-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representatives Moore, Gunn
House Bill 269
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "TRUTH IN GRADING ACT"; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT A UNIFORM GRADING SYSTEM; TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE UNIFORM GRADING SYSTEM; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO ADOPT APPROPRIATE EQUIVALENTS FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND COLLEGE COURSES, INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA COURSES AND HONORS COURSES; TO ALLOW WEIGHTED CREDIT FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE COURSES, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS BEING MET; TO PERMIT THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ADOPT A POLICY ALLOWING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TAKE COLLEGE COURSES FOR WEIGHTED CREDIT EQUAL TO THE NUMERIC GRADE AWARDED IN CERTAIN ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES; TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MEET CERTAIN STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL OF COURSES TO BE DESIGNATED AS DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL APPROVE COURSES FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSIGNING A NUMERIC GRADE VALUE BASED ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO PROVIDE EACH LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD THE OPTION OF REQUIRING A UNIFORM GRADING POLICY TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT; TO REQUIRE THOSE SCHOOL BOARDS EXERCISING THE OPTION TO ADOPT APPROPRIATE EQUIVALENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AGE AND GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM OF THE STUDENTS TO WHOM THE GRADING POLICY APPLIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Truth in Grading Act."
SECTION 2. (1) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a uniform grading system to be implemented in all public schools of the state, including provisions for the assignment of grades on class assignments and examinations, before each school year. A district grading policy:
(a) Must require a classroom teacher to assign a grade that reflects the student's relative mastery of an assignment;
(b) May not require a classroom teacher to assign a minimum grade for an assignment without regard to the student's quality of work; and
(c) May allow a student a reasonable opportunity to make up or redo a class assignment or examination for which the student received a failing grade.
(2) The uniform grading system adopted by the State Board of Education shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Consistent numerical breaks for letter grades;
(b) Consideration of standards to define advanced placement and honors courses;
(c) Appropriate weighting of the courses; and
(d) Determination of the courses and weightings to be used in the calculation of class rank.
(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate equivalents for advanced placement and college courses, International Baccalaureate Diploma courses and honors courses. For purposes of this section, the term "advanced placement course" shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 37-15-39, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(4) Weighted credit shall be allowed for advanced placement courses and courses taught under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program if:
(a) The student takes the entire advanced placement course or the entire course offered in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in a particular subject;
(b) The student completes the approved course and passes the standard examination for the advanced placement or International Baccalaureate course by making a three (3) or higher on the end-of-course examination; and
(c) The instructor of the advanced placement or International Baccalaureate course meets the minimum qualifications for instructors established in Section 37-15-38(16).
(5) (a) The local school board may decide whether to adopt a policy to allow high school students in the local school district to take college courses for weighted credit equal to the numeric grade awarded in the advanced placement course, International Baccalaureate courses and honors courses.
(b) If the local school board adopts a policy as set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the school district must meet the requirements established in Sections 37-15-37 and 37-15-38 for approval of courses to be designated as dual enrollment courses. The courses approved by the State Board of Education for dual enrollment shall be approved for the purpose of assigning a numeric grade value, which may include weighted credit, based on the following:
(i) A letter from the superintendent of the local school district or principal of the school describing how the course exceeds the expectations for coursework required under the accreditation standards for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program; and
(ii) The grade level or levels of students who will be enrolled in the course.
(6) When implementing the uniform grading system required by the State Board of Education, each local school board shall have the option of determining whether the requirements for grading will apply to elementary schools. If a local school board exercises its option to require a uniform grading system for both elementary and secondary schools, the school board shall adopt appropriate equivalents that are representative of the age and grade level curriculum of the students to whom the grading policy applies.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.
