Spring Branch ISD Featured News

(Spanish)

Dear SBISD Families and Staff,

In response to the extended suspension of normal district operations due to the Covid-19 health crisis, SBISD leaders have spent the past few weeks developing Adjusted Grading Guidelines. In doing so, we have followed a key tenet of our Every Child core value. That is, what’s best for the child drives the decision.  We aim for learning to continue successfully, with support and feedback for all students, while also ensuring that no student is negatively impacted as a result of the unprecedented situation in which we find ourselves.

As a reminder, no work completed since March 23 has been for a grade. The Adjusted Grading Guidelines are for the remainder of this school year, effective next Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

The Adjusted Grading Guidelines and grade reporting timelines are detailed below and on our website.  Should you have questions, please email us at grading@springbranchisd.com.

With appreciation,

Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

As of Monday, March 23, 2020, Spring Branch ISD suspended normal operations due to Covid-19 and extended the district closure through at least May 1, 2020. 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has affirmed that each school district has the local authority to determine the grading criteria that best fits the needs of the district and its students. Principals and district staff thoroughly reviewed options, in light of the extended closure. We are confident that the adjusted grading guidelines outlined below will meet the needs of our students.

Grading Guidelines have been adjusted for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, effective April 14, 2020.

OVERALL GUIDANCE
To support our students, families, teachers, and leaders our system will focus on student success by:

• Balancing compassion, rigor, support, and flexibility; 
• Focusing on priority skills and checks for understanding that prepare students
  for the next grade level; 
• Allowing students to show their understanding in varied ways;
• Prioritizing meaningful feedback to students about their progress; and
• Organizing campus structures so that students who are at risk of not meeting
  academic targets will be closely monitored and supported.

HIGH SCHOOL

• Final Exams for the spring semester are cancelled.
• Teachers will assign and grade student work and assign number grades for each assignment as usual.
• Assignments will be weighted equally.
• Final semester grades will be recorded as “met standard” or “did not meet standard” on transcripts.
• Students enrolled in Dual Credit and onRamps Dual Enrollment courses will follow grading guidelines and timelines associated with the college expectations of those courses.
• Spring 2020 semester grades will be excluded from GPA calculation.
• Parents will continue to view grades in Skyward Family Access.
• Progress reports and report cards will be uploaded into Skyward Family Access.
• Any Senior (Class of 2020) at risk of not earning credits for graduation will be academically monitored and an individual plan developed to assist the student.
• High school profile sheets that are sent with transcripts when students apply to colleges and universities will be updated to reflect the district’s position on grading guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Final Exams for the spring semester are cancelled.
• Teachers will assign and grade student work and assign number grades for each assignment as usual.
• Assignments will be weighted equally.
• The final course grade will be averaged across the prior grading periods and recorded as “met standard” or “did not meet standard.”
• Parents will continue to see grades in Skyward Family Access.
• Progress reports and report cards will be uploaded into Skyward Family Access.

PK/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  

• Number grades will not be recorded for the last grading period.
• At least once a week, the teacher of record will be in contact with each student and parent to review progress (phone call, email, video conference, etc.).
• Teachers will monitor student progress on selected learning opportunities through varied means (telephone calls, video conferences, pictures of work samples, submission through email, etc.)
• Monitoring of progress each week will be designated as: demonstrated, in progress, no response.
• Student promotion to the next grade level will be based on first three nine-week grading periods, participation in this current nine weeks, and individual grade placement committee decisions.

SUMMER SCHOOL
During a normal school year, SBISD provides 8-10 unique summer academic programs that range from promotional summer school and credit recovery to credit acceleration and language enrichment.   Summer school options are currently under discussion. Details forthcoming.