XVI. ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND ASSESSMENT

Homework

Homework provides valuable feedback to the teacher regarding a student’s progress and feedback to parents/guardians on what is being taught in the classroom. Homework may be assigned in order for students to: practice what they have learned in school; get ready for the next day’s class; use resources, such as libraries, and encyclopedias; and learn things beyond the scope of direct instruction.

It is important, that while parents/guardians may help with homework, that the work done is truly reflective of the child’s effort and abilities. This may done by providing a quiet place and time for the child, as well as the resources a student may need to complete an assignment.

Parents/guardians should contact the teacher if a child consistently has no homework or struggles with assignments.

Students in grade 3 through 8 are required to have an assignment notebook in which they record their homework assignments. They are expected to complete the work neatly, accurately, and on time. Students may be required to re-do homework that does not meet expectations.

Homework will be collected and recorded by the teacher in a timely manner. Not every assignment must be given a letter grade, but each one must be recorded in some fashion. Students have the right to know what portion of their grade is obtained through homework assignments and how well they did on individual assignments.

Generally, homework will not be given to students in grades K through 8 on the weekends or during vacations. Exceptions may be made for long-term assignments, make-up work, or emergency situations.

The age of the student is a general guideline for amount of homework assigned. Students in the younger grades (K-2) should expect 10-30 minutes per night, grades 3 through 8, 30-60 minutes per night. The actual amount of time spent, however, depends on the individual student.

Student Absence and Homework

Students returning from an absence are expected to make-up all assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for assignment he/she has missed. When a child is absent due to illness for more than 2-3 days, parents/guardians should make arrangements with the teacher to get the child’s work. This may be done by calling the school office before 9:30 a.m. The assignments may be picked-up in the school office until 4:00 p.m. or in E.S.S. until 5:15 p.m. It is also helpful for students to have peers record assignments for them when they are ill.

The teacher(s) will work with the student, upon their return, to set a schedule for make-up assignment. Assignments not made up within the designated time may be graded “0.”

Teachers are not expected to provide assignments for students missing class due to family vacations or trips. Direct instruction/classroom interaction time cannot be replaced or made up.

Report Cards and Progress Reports

Report cards are issued three times during the year at the end of each trimester. Dates for these are noted on the yearly and monthly calendar. Weekly progress reports are given in many classrooms, especially in grades three and above. At least one progress report will go out at mid-term. If at any time parents have a question about a child’s progress, they should please contact the child’s teacher.

Grading Scale

Pre-3, Pre-4, and Kindergarten have a report card tailored to their specific needs and learning activities.

Students in grades 1 through 3 are evaluated using the following:

Level of Performance Effort
1 = Meets grade level expectations S = satisfactory
2 = Inconsistent in meeting grade level expectations I = improvement needed
3 = Does not meet grade level expectations U = unsatisfactory

Student progress in grade 4 through 8 are evaluated using the following:

Evaluation Key Level of performance

A 94 – 100
A- 91-93
B+ 88-90
B 85-87
B- 82-84
C+ 79-81
C 75-78
C- 74 – 73
D+ 72-71
D 70
D- 69-67
F below 67
1= Meets expectations
2= Inconsistent in meeting expectations
3= Does not meet expectations

Assessment

In addition to frequent classroom assessments through homework, quizzes and tests, St. Mary School students participate in standardized assessment programs.

• Students in grades 4-5-6-7-8 participate in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) program in the spring.

Scores are reported to parents/guardians when the school receives them. They are also recorded on the student’s permanent cumulative record card.

Kindergarten and Preschool students are assessed at the end of the year. This ensures their readiness for the next grade level.

Other assessments may be given, as deemed necessary by the school, to assist in placement.

Promotion/Retention

Students are promoted once each year, only at the end of the school year. Promotion to the next grade level is based on the student having fulfilled the requirements of the current grade placement.

Retention is a possibility when a student’s academic and/or social progress has not consistently met the expectations of the current grade level, and it would be to the advantage of the child to remain at the current grade level. This is a serious process and will be done after consultation with the parents/guardians of the student, the teacher(s) and the Principal. The process must begin by mid-year and a final decision made at the end of the school year. If the parent/guardian refuses retention, the student’s report card will reflect the teacher’s recommendation. Parents/guardians will then be required to sign a statement acknowledging the retention recommendation and their disagreement with it.

Special Needs

If the teacher and/or parent/guardian determines that a child is having difficulty performing at grade level the school may recommend that the parents/guardians seek assistance for the child by:

• Having the child privately tutored
• Seeking counseling services
• Having the child assessed through the child’s home school (public) district or other private resources.

If a formal evaluation is requested by the school, parents/guardians are expected to follow through with the recommendation. Services recommended through testing shall be coordinated with the school and the service provider. It must be recognized, however, that St. Mary School may not be able to meet the needs of all students.