I-6950     ©     IKAD  
GRADE  ADJUSTMENTS

The District requires that teachers follow the procedures established to implement the District grading system.  Therefore, all grades shall be determined following procedures established by policy or established procedure.  For example, a class assignment grade, test grade or one posted to a report card, cumulative record, or transcript shall conform to the procedures established.  A change to a grade can only be made as indicated below or in the alternative, if it can be shown through a hearing process that the teacher issuing the grade did not implement the District grading system in establishing the grade by following the policy or procedure to a reasonable degree.

A grade indicating an assignment, subject or curricular area grade status of incomplete may be changed by the issuing teacher or a school official following the directions of the issuing teacher.  A grade may be changed to correct mechanical or clerical errors.   A mechanical/clerical error may include an arithmetic error, transcribing error, or posting error.  A teacher aware of such an error may request a grade change by submitting "A Grade Change Request Form" to their building principal for approval.

Changing  a  Class  Test  or  Assignment
Grade  Not  Yet  a  Student  Record

A grade that has been entered in the teacher's record keeping system by the teacher of a subject or curricular area for the purpose of accumulating grades toward a course grade and has not yet been entered as a grade for a subject or curricular area on a student's report card, in the cumulative record or on a transcript is not considered a student record for purposes of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by this Governing Board.  If the parent or guardian of a student or an eligible student believe a grade, not yet a student record,  is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of students rights or can show proof that the teacher failed to reasonably follow the guidelines in the school grading system, the grade may be considered for change as indicated herein.  The first step is to contact the school records custodian and request that the record be changed.  If the custodian cannot change the record to the requester's satisfaction the custodian will ask that a request in writing be submitted using "A Grade Change Request Form" and the hearing process shall be as found in the hearing procedure established by this policy under the condition that the final determination shall be made at the second level of the hearing process by the custodian of the records.  Following Level II of the hearing procedure the decision to comply or decline to comply will be made by the records custodian with the decision being final and no further appeal being allowed.

Changing  a  Course  Grade  that
is  a  Student  Record

A course grade that has been entered for a subject or curricular area on a student's report card, in the cumulative record or on a transcript is considered a student record under FERPA by this Governing Board.  If the parent or guardian of a student or an eligible student believe a student record grade is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the students rights or can show proof that the teacher failed to reasonably follow the guidelines in the school grading system, the grade may be considered for change as indicated in the hearing procedure established by 34 Code of Federal Regulations 99.20 and 99.21.  The first step is to contact the school records custodian and request that the record be changed.  If the custodian cannot change the record to the requester's satisfaction the custodian will ask that a request in writing be submitted using "A Grade Change Request Form."  The form shall be completed by the requestor and returned to an administrator in the school who shall place the request in the hands of the school records custodian for disposition in accord with the hearing procedures established.

Adopted:     July 28, 2009

LEGAL REF.:     6.30.10.1 et seq.  NMAC
20 U.S.C. 1232
34 C.F.R. 99

CROSS REF.:     IKA - Grading/Assessment Systems

     IKAB - Report Cards/Progress Reports

     IL - Evaluation of Instructional Programs

     ILB - Test Assessment Administration

     JR - Student Records