Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, June 28, 2010

Judge: Minimum Grade Ban Applies To Report Cards - cbs11tv.com

Judge: Minimum Grade Ban Applies To Report Cards - cbs11tv.com

Judge: Minimum Grade Ban Applies To Report Cards

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ― Students in Texas must get the grades they earn and not an inflated score on report cards under a new state law that bans minimum grade policies, a judge decided Monday in a ruling that backed arguments from state education officials.

Eleven school districts sued Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott over his interpretation of the law, which he said should apply to class assignments and report cards. The districts, most of them in the Houston area, said it should only apply to classroom assignments.

Some districts have long had policies that establish minimum grades of 50, 60 or even 70. That means if a student failed and earned a zero, his or her grade would be automatically brought up to the minimum score.

The schools contend that not allowing students a grade below 50, for example, gives them room to improve and eventually receive course credit, since one low score could bring down