Fayette County Public Schools on April 14 released the school system’s virtual grading practices for the remainder of the school year and announced refunds for students who paid for, but did not take Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
“These guidelines pertain to the switch from face-to-face education to virtual learning when schools were ordered closed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said school system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. “A document detailing grading practices for all grade levels was sent to parents via Infinite Campus (IC) messenger on April 13.”
Berry-Dreisbach said the document is also available on the school system’s website, www.fcboe.org, and Facebook page. Highlights include:
- Students will not be penalized for late work.
- Teachers will provide clear success criteria. Timely specific feedback will be provided in order for students to understand if they are making progress toward, proficient with, or exceeding expected mastery of standards.
- Students will be given opportunities to improve their performance on academic assignments that received a failing grade.
“These grading practices were put in place to minimize the negative impacts to student achievement through the virtual delivery of instruction,” Berry-Dreisbach said. “While most students are successfully engaged with virtual learning, there are some students who are struggling for a variety of reasons, some being that families are experiencing impacts to their physical health, their emotional well being and/or financial resources.”
Additionally, said Berry-Dreisbach, students who paid for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, but did not take the exams, will receive refunds in June after the school system confirms who took tests and who did not. Refunds will be handled through each high school.
