CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — During the new business portion of the Feb. 11, 2025, Board of Education meeting, Student Member Sam Virk raised concerns about grading requirements for seniors in their final quarter, noting the challenge of meeting standard grading policies despite an abbreviated school schedule.
Virk, representing student interests, questioned whether the current mandate requiring five product and five process grades per quarter should be adjusted for seniors, who graduate weeks earlier than their underclass peers. He highlighted the difficulty for teachers in assigning coursework that aligns with the standard grading structure when seniors have significantly less instructional time.
“If you factor in that seniors are the most likely group to take Advanced Placement classes and lose additional time due to AP exams, they could have four to six fewer weeks in school than other students,” Virk said. “This creates an increased workload for teachers and students alike.”
Virk suggested a policy modification to reduce the required number of grades for seniors during the fourth quarter, ensuring a fairer workload distribution for both educators and students.
Superintendent Maria Navarro clarified that grading procedures fall under administrative regulations, not board policy. She acknowledged Virk’s concerns and committed to further discussions with school officials to explore potential solutions.
“I would advise that the board not implement policy at this level because this is a procedural matter,” Navarro said. “However, I will follow up with Kevin Lowndes, Chief of the Office of Teaching and Learning, and Sam to examine how senior grades are calculated and determine if adjustments are needed.”
Navarro also noted ongoing efforts to distribute AP coursework more evenly between junior and senior years, aiming to alleviate academic pressures on seniors.
The discussion concluded with an agreement to revisit the issue in collaboration with school administration, ensuring a balanced grading structure for graduating seniors.
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