The CCS school board met on Nov. 11 to discuss the workshop item of grading policies and objectives. The phrase “grade for learning, not failure” was frequently used to summarize the objectives. Assistant Superintendent Amy Dudley said assessing for learning allows grades to better reflect knowledge and understanding.

“Grades need to reflect what the student has learned. Where the student is at a certain point of time in their learning is temporary. Students are continuously growing and learning and it’s important to honor that growth.”

Conversely, Martin Strother, former teacher in the Hamilton Southeastern district, said “equitable grading” created unappealing results.

“Many teachers were in agreement that these practices had unintended consequences,” Strother said. “(The grading policies) encouraged a lack of organization and a lack of preparation. This didn’t serve students well as they would quickly learn the system and take advantage of it.”

Grading policies has recently become a hot topic in education, creating divisive opinions. Kristen Taylor, Carmel Middle School Math teacher, said it’s important to consider the amount of points awarded to students who fail to turn in any work.