5421B - GRADING SYSTEM FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN REGULAR EDUCATION CLASSES

The regular classroom teacher, special education teacher, and parent will work closely together to assist the eligible student with a disability in meeting the requirements of a general education class. Adaptations may include, but are not limited to the adaptations listed in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) which must be implemented according to Indiana Article 7.

The IEP will be developed by the Case Conference Committee with recommendations made concerning accommodations/modifications. The difference between a modification and accommodation must be made clear to students and parents at the case conference and documented in the IEP. A modification is a change to the curriculum/course objectives whereby individual goals established in the IEP is substituted for the course goal. Less content is expected to be mastered. Less written work is expected to be completed. An accommodation is a strategy which allows the student access to the curriculum. They are aids certain students needed to help them learn the same material the rest of the class is learning. Accommodations allow the special education student to master the curriculum/course objective. Students receiving a high school diploma must meet the same requirements as general education students.

Teacher assistance or accommodations may include support provided in the resource room or a learning lab that provides reinforcement of material taught in the general education classroom. If the eligible student with a disability demonstrates comprehension and understanding of the material presented in the general education classroom, as a result of the efforts of the general education teacher and the special education/resource teacher, such student's grade should not be lowered.

If an eligible student with a disability makes his/her best effort to meet the general education teacher's minimum criteria for passing the class, and the student's grade average is an "F", the student can be given an adapted grade of an "S" ONLY if the student is not earning credits toward a diploma.

If an eligible student with a disability does not make his/her best effort to meet the general education teacher's minimum criteria for passing the class, and the student is failing the class the student would receive an "F" and thereby fail the class.

If an eligible student with a disability has a grade average in the general education class of "D-" or above, the student should be given the letter grade earned in the class.

Transcripts and Permanent Record Cards will not specifically identify the student's disability or the adaptations within the curriculum.

It is the recommended policy of the School Corporation to employ differential standards for grading and course requirements. The general classroom teacher must provide accommodations, adapt the curriculum, instructional approaches, and grading practices for a student identified as a child with a disability in the general education classroom in accordance to the child's Individualized Education Plan.