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Denton(TX) ISD Makes Dramatic Grading Changes
CBS11DFW ^ | 4/23/14 | Jason Allen

Posted on 04/23/2014 2:21:49 PM PDT by DallasBiff

DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) - The Denton Independent School District is throwing traditional grading methods right out the window, shifting to a new way of assessing their students. The change is going to happen for kids from 6th to 12th grade beginning next year. Teachers will still be handing out letter grades, but the means of calculating those scores will be different than just about any other school district in North Texas.

Hand in your homework late? You won’t get a zero.

Want a higher grade on a test? Just take it again. Grades will no longer be reduced for failure to meet deadlines. Zeroes will not be used for missing work. Students will be able to retake all exams and use the higher score. The idea is to hand out grades that show what the kids actually know, not how well they behave. “We are not dismissing the value of those behaviors,” stated Vicki Christenson, director of secondary curriculum.

“We’re simply separating them out and saying grades have to be all about learning, and not about behaviors that we value. We have to find another way to help kids build those behaviors.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: education; obama
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To: FES0844; Grams A; DallasBiff; Chode

Millennials in the Workplace Training Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz0o9clVQu8


21 posted on 04/23/2014 3:24:39 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (I will raise $2M for Cruz and/or Palin's next run, what will you do?)
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To: DallasBiff

“We’re simply separating them out and saying grades have to be all about learning, and not about behaviors that we value. We have to find another way to help kids build those behaviors.”

If something actually gets kids to learn and choose correct behaviors, I’m for it. Time will tell.


22 posted on 04/23/2014 3:25:07 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: DallasBiff

Just imagine what it would be like to hire one of their graduates.


23 posted on 04/23/2014 3:25:24 PM PDT by ladyjane
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To: DallasBiff

This is ridiculous


24 posted on 04/23/2014 3:26:50 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: DallasBiff
.. not how well they behave

Marvelous

25 posted on 04/23/2014 3:28:50 PM PDT by tomkat
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To: DallasBiff

Members of the Denton Independent School District Board should be charged with child abuse.


26 posted on 04/23/2014 3:32:25 PM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
pretty much... and the lame response video is proof
27 posted on 04/23/2014 3:40:25 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: DallasBiff

Do they even give out any grades below a B anymore?


28 posted on 04/23/2014 3:44:00 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Chode

There are 120,000. People in Denton, less than 5000 vote in the mayor/council/school district elections. No organized group to oppose these people.


29 posted on 04/23/2014 3:44:40 PM PDT by rstrahan
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To: DallasBiff
Want a higher grade on a test? Just take it again. Grades will no longer be reduced for failure to meet deadlines. Zeroes will not be used for missing work. Students will be able to retake all exams and use the higher score.

What's their motive for doing this in Texas?

Has to be a motive...

30 posted on 04/23/2014 3:50:12 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: DallasBiff

If, in the end, the students are better prepared, what difference does it make?


31 posted on 04/23/2014 3:51:28 PM PDT by The Iceman Cometh (Proud Teabagging Barbarian Terrorist Hobbit Crazy Cracker Son-of-a-Bitch!)
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To: DallasBiff

This is a great improvement. Pls note, it said that turning in homework late would not mean a 0, it would probably mean a lesser grade than if it were turned in on time. In the real world, even if you are chronically late, if you get all of your work done, and have time to help others, you will not get fired. You just may get promoted and more responsibility that will fill a full workday or your pay may be docked for the missing time.

This isn’t a feel-good endeavor, it is one geared to more accurately assess the acquisition of knowledge, which is the schools’ job, not behavioral modification, which is what they focus on now. Internationally our academic scores have been plummeting since the establishment of the USDOE.

This school district is reasserting its local control and has decided to use common sense to assess education. Good for them!

When students know that their academic success is the goal, not obedience and subservience, they will probably find that students behave better too and even feel encouraged to work hard.

One time in high school, I had already figured out my grade was a B+ even if I didn’t do any more work. So, on the next test, I handed it in blank. My teacher returned it with a “D” instead of an “E”. I promptly asked her why. She said she didn’t want to fail me. It worked, I did the work and turned it in so that I deserved the D. . .and no, even though it was A quality work, she left the D intact.

That is called knowing your students and using judgment. That is what this ISD is talking about.


32 posted on 04/23/2014 3:55:00 PM PDT by gspurlock (http://www.backyardfence.wordpress.com)
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To: DallasBiff
In a related note, purchasing officials in the Denton ISD will now accept late bids, incomplete bids and allow unlimited "do-overs" until the desired vendor wins.

“We’re simply separating them out and saying grades have to be all about learning, and not about behaviors that we value. We have to find another way to help kids build those behaviors.”

Whatever happened to letting the family instill "behaviors that we value"?

/"old fashioned values"

33 posted on 04/23/2014 4:03:56 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: Sergio

Unless the work is routine, and the boss has objective performance standards available, s/he is just bullying or dreaming, or some combination.

A smart boss knows the “project management triangle” — “cheap, fast, good — chose two”.


34 posted on 04/23/2014 4:10:56 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: DallasBiff

Those kids that actually graduate HS and get accepted into a college are in for a rude awakening.

Well, assuming they can handle the application process in the first place, which I doubt.

Is this another selling point for Common Core or just your average lib destruction of our children’s futures?


35 posted on 04/23/2014 4:13:10 PM PDT by SusaninOhio
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To: gspurlock
In the real world, even if you are chronically late,.... you will not get fired.

So being late for deadlines and critical due dates are no big deal and not one which would cause termination?

What world do you live in?

Are you employed by government?

36 posted on 04/23/2014 4:14:04 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: rstrahan
figures
37 posted on 04/23/2014 4:14:53 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: DainBramage

My kids private school has done this. I think it’s good! The kids get lots more homework than I did as a kid. I rarely had homework.

It’s been a struggle for my kids to do homework every night, especially when they get sick.

I also like the idea of retaking tests. I’d rather a kid learn the material and be prepared for finals.

I think the only tests they can’t retake are the semester finals.


38 posted on 04/23/2014 4:22:02 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: DallasBiff
Want a higher grade on a test? Just take it again... Students will be able to retake all exams and use the higher score.

This sounds like training for a future election vote counter.

-PJ

39 posted on 04/23/2014 4:22:12 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: Political Junkie Too

My kids can do this, but they never have. It’s really good for kids who get sick or who are involved in after school activities.

My kids do theater, and the theater kids grades always slip during shows. At least if the kids bomb a test the day after opening night, they can retake it.


40 posted on 04/23/2014 4:37:54 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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