The spread of COVID-19 has caused disruption and concern for all of us in so many different ways. For families and staff at HCPSS and other school systems, the uncertainty is made even greater by the many questions that are still unanswered, especially around grading and graduation requirements. Please know that we remain committed to ensuring seniors graduate within the expected timeframe, and we continue to seek clarity from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on the implications of school closing for graduation, third quarter grades and other issues that we are working actively with state leaders to resolve. 

Regarding student assessments, HCPSS has received notification from MSDE that Maryland has received approval to waive federal 2019-2020 Assessment and Accountability Requirements. Thus, school ratings will not be assigned and HCPSS will not administer the MCAP English language, mathematics, science and social studies assessments, the American Government high school assessment or the Maryland School Survey for this school year. 

HCPSS shared additional information on April 1, 2020 to provide an update on grading for the 3rd quarter marking period, which was previously scheduled to end Friday, April 3. Decisions on how grading will be handled for this quarter are based on three primary goals, which are consistent with district goals for the overall instructional program: 

• Providing meaningful feedback on student achievement
• Ensuring equity of opportunity for all students, by removing barriers to success
• Ensuring fairness in assessing student work for the quarter

For all students, 3rd quarter grades will be based on work assigned on and prior to March 13, 2020, the last day schools were in session, because the majority of the quarter had already taken place when schools were closed. 

Teachers will continue to grade work assigned prior to March 13 that has been received, and will continue grading through April 24, allowing students to submit 3rd quarter work that was due by March 13 but had not yet been submitted. This will allow students to improve their grades, if desired.
IEP and 504 plans will be honored in the completion of all work.

Additionally, students may, at the direction of their teacher, complete work assigned between April 14-24 to improve their 3rd quarter grade. No new assignment submissions will negatively impact the grade earned by March 13.
Work assigned or completed between April 14-24 will not impact 4th quarter grades.