Now is the time for Loudoun's School Board to act on this measure. The research done by Fairgrade in conjunction with Fairfax County Public Schools and by FairGrade Loudoun shows that our students do not compete on a level playing field when it comes to college admissions, admissions into honors programs and applying for merit scholarships. Families are paying more money for car insurance because it's harder for Loudoun students to get the "B" average it takes to get the good student discount. School Board members are elected to represent and act in the best interests of their constituents, and the evidence clearly points to the ten point grading scale as being in the best interest of Loudoun's students and their families.

Posted by michzuck (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Erica,

On Wednesday February 18the the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) will have a presentation on Fair Grade at the School Administration Building at 7:15 P.M.

The MSAAC Officers have made the decision to simply present information for and against changing the LCPS grading scale. We will not advocate nor repudiate what the presenters offer.

This meeting is open to public and all are welcome to attend.

Phyllis Randall
MSAAC Chairperson

Posted by philarandall (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If this must be done, we must be careful not to do so at the expense of our top students. I suggest either a numerical scale or one which uses plusses and minuses to differentiate for example between a 100 and a 90. And of course,it goes without saying that it isn't possible to retroactively change grades. I understand that Fairfax County is not acting yet on giving bonus points for "honors" classes because "honors" classes have not yet been defined.

Posted by MLC1 (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm surprised that Vice Chair Guerin could assert he'd seen no evidence that Loudoun's anachronistic grading scale harms students. The members of FairGrade have provided ample evidence that our grading policy costs family money, costs students scholarships, and puts our students at a disadvantage when competing against students from schools using a standard ten point scale. If he failed to see any evidence in the reams of data provided by FairGrade, perhaps he might have paid more attention to the detailed observations of Mr. Mittan, who articulated - in painful detail - the many ways his honor student son had been held back by this scale.

Posted by drgardner (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i'm curious- what is the argument AGAINST Fair Grade? why would someone want to keep the current system?

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am somewhat bemused by this discussion. In the school system I attended and graduated from in the 1950s, the minimum passing grade was 75 and an A required a 95. Perhaps we should be tightening requirements instead of relaxing them.

Posted by loco224 (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

loco224 you raise a good point. maybe i should refine my question: is Fair Grade a "when in Rome..." request since it's what everyone else is doing, and it levels the playing field for LoCo students or is it truly a better and more fair grading system than what we currently have in place?

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the point is that it levels the playing field for our students. We will be the only county in the commonwealth with a different grading scale once Fairfax's change goes into effect. Admissions departments in universities review thousands of applications per year and can't possibly be expected to know that our Loudoun students are graded more stringently than students in other areas.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on January 28, 2009 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Momof2, on a side note, we already have two state laws, on the duties of a chairman at large and on campaign disclosures, that ONLY apply to Loudoun.

That seems indicative to me of two things:
*we need to change our form of county government right away before more bad law accumulates due to our anachronisms
*we sure do seem to think we are mighty special and different on other fronts!

It would seem that a consistent grading scale has its merits.

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on January 29, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Barbara,
I agree. What are the possibilities of getting this govt reform before the BoS takes over the schools, too?!! What a huge mistake that would be!

On another side note, did you hear that the SB approved a school site for MS-5? I read it on Leesburg 2Day. On another really off the subject side note, there is a letter to the editor from some Aldie folks declaring that we don't need a hospital on Rt 50. Thought you'd be interested.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on January 29, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Vice Chairman Warren Guerin has it completely wrong. We should not have to prove to him that LoCo students are disadvantaged by the 7-point scale; he should have to prove to us the the 7-point scale advantages LoCo students. If the board can't see their way through this issue, the state will do it for them via legislation. That alone speaks volumes to how off-base their postion is.

Posted by don.grieco (anonymous) on January 29, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Guerin here is your requested data:
Average acceptance GPA for VT is 3.86(source VT web page).

Average acceptance GPA from Freedom HS for 07-08 into VT is 3.91 (source LCPS web page thru Family Connection).

Average acceptance GPA from Briar Woods HS for 07-08 into VT is 3.94 (source LCPS web page thru Family Connection).

So if the admissions officers are aware of LCPS higher grading standard and is giving consideration to our students, why is our needed GPA average higher than the general GPA?

Mr. Guerin please feel free to contact me if you require additional data from the LCPS web pages. As I said Tuesday night, job one: at least, do no harm.

Posted by ashburnray (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Congrats to everyone involved for finally accomplishing a fair grading system for our students. Now when can we talk about getting the missing honors classes back for our high school upperclassmen? And, a curious question: why do we not vote for superintendent of schools? Is this position appointed for life?

Posted by jeanscouts (anonymous) on February 12, 2009 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The superintendent is appointed by the elected School Board.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on February 13, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)