Case
Grade Changer

You are a new 3rd grade teacher and it is the end of the marking period. You are staying after school hours to do some last minute grading and inputting grades into the system. A parent enters your room and demands to speak to you about their child's recent test grade of a "c". The parent claims that this test score will lower their child's current grade standing of an "A" to a "B" and this is unacceptable. After a long conversation that parent requests that you change their child's grade. What would you do in this situation?

Posted on: 04/20/13 | Views: 1522
Solution #1
Top Solution
When grading students work such as papers, homework, tests, or projects there should always be a rubric to follow along with what is expected. This way when you are grading your students work you have evidence that the student did not meet the criteria standards. As the parent walks into your classroom you can be accepting to how their feeling but also show them why their student got this grade and how you need to be fair to all students. If this student gets more credit then they deserve then all the students deserve credit. If you really feel for the student and their parents you can access another arrangement. But, whatever you decide make sure it needs to be offered to the entire class not just this student and his or her parents.

Using a rubric would be beneficial with a project or writing test. I agree that changing a grade for one student is not right since all the students had to work get the grades they did.

I agree with this solution. Being prepared with evidence to support your grading methods is key.

Proving the parent and student with a rubric to show why you grade the way you do would be very helpful in this situation I think.

Excellent suggestion! Rubrics are great for setting standards.

Great suggestion. Rubrics can be very helpful in these situations.

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Solution #2
I feel in this situation it is important to stand your ground with the grade that was originally earned. It is important to show the parent that you are a firm teacher and just because they are unhappy with the way their child performed on the test, that doesn't mean you are going to cave to their want of a better grade. Maybe suggest that you will spend some extra time with their child to help them improve on the next test.

We as adults can remember our teachers telling us, " you earn the grade you deserve". With that said I would stick to their grade they received and I would give the parents some ideas on how they can help their child improve their grade.

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Solution #3
At this point I would show the parent their childs test and the key to the test to show that the student received a C and it was going to stay that way. I would very nicly tell the parent that every sudent has the same opportunity in the classroom for their grades and all take the same test. It would not be fair to have the student re take the test with not allowing the other students to re take it.
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Solution #4
I would not change the grade. This would be neither ethical nor fair. I would explain to the parent that tests are a big part of the final grade, and that if I changed it for their child, I would have to change everyone's grade.

Excellent suggestion!

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Solution #5
I could see if it was late work, but what the parent want is not professional. Her child made a c on their test and she wants you to change it for the wrong validation. When it comes to grade changes you have to stick with you decision because it will be one long year dealing with this parent. You think if you change it that you'll be doing a favor for the parent and you'd be in good favor, wrong. This parent along with others will come in every time to demand you change their child's grade.
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Solution #6
In this situation, no matter what the parents feels, the student got what the student earned. If the parent wanted the student to maintain their grade then that parent should have helped the student study more. You can not change the grades for everyone because then students will pass along in school without meeting the set standards.

I agree, you have to follow ethical guidelines

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Solution #7
I would try and get the parent to come back and get an appointment for a meeting that fits both of our schedules. The next thing to do would be to gather advice from the more senior teachers as they may have some experience with such parents. In the end I would still refuse the parents request and provide reasoning for my doing so.
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Solution #8
I would not speak with a parent that had not made a scheduled conference, and I would include an administrator at the scheduled conference. I would listen to the reasoning the parent gave for changing a grade, and then explain to the parent your grading process while supplying their student's work and how/why they earned the test grade of c-. I would also explain to the parent why it would be detrimental to change a student's grade simply because of a parent's request.
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Solution #9
I would not change the grade and ask that a school administrator come to the classroom to reinforce this statement.
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