BaCo. Schools Making Adjustments To New Grading Policy

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- The report cards are out in Baltimore County, and some parents aren't so happy about the school system's new grading policy. Now the school system is making some adjustments.

It was a policy that confused parents at the beginning of the school year.

"I heard of it, but I thought it was a joke," one mother said.

"It feels like they're lowering the standards for the students," said another.

Under Baltimore County's new grading system, homework is not weighed as heavily.

"He works very hard, and he comes home, he does all his homework," said Michele Buddemeyer, who tells WJZ her sixth-grade son's recent report card has her worried.

"It's the first time he's never had Honor Roll, and that's since kindergarten. It's a little bit of a shock," she said.

She's not alone. Local parent-teacher organizations tell WJZ they've been inundated with emails from upset parents.

Now the school system is making changes.

County school officials say they're not pulling back from the new policy, they're just giving more guidance on how it should be applied.

"We didn't give teachers the instructions they needed to really do it effectively," said Mychael Dickerson, spokesman for the Baltimore County school system.

A new addendum shows classwork and significant homework assignments should count for two-thirds of a student's grade, while tests should make up one-third.

Mychael Dickerson says the new policy is designed to monitor if a student is mastering the material.

"You need to know whether a kid understands the content they're being taught in class," he said.

Still, Michele Buddemeyer has concerns about her son's future.

"This is really going to affect him getting into college if this grading policy sticks," she said.

School officials say they'll continue to adjust as they get used to the new policy.

The new grading policy was developed over a two year period by a committee of school officials, parents and teachers.

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