HB397: Statewide uniform grading policy; requires Board of Education to establish.

HOUSE BILL NO. 397
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 12, 2010
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-20.1, relating to the establishment of a statewide uniform grading policy.
Patron-- Lohr

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-20.1 as follows:

§ 22.1-20.1. Board to establish statewide uniform grading policy.

The Board shall establish a statewide uniform grading policy beginning with the entering sixth grade and ninth grade classes of the 2010-2011 academic school year that interprets end-of-course grades used for students in public schools in grades 6-12 as follows:

1. Grade "A" equals 90 percent through 100 percent, has a grade point average value of 4.0, and is defined as "outstanding progress";

2. Grade "B" equals 80 percent through 89 percent, has a grade point average value of 3.0, and is defined as "above average progress";

3. Grade "C" equals 70 percent through 79 percent, has a grade point average value of 2.0, and is defined as "average progress";

4. Grade "D" equals 60 percent through 69 percent, has a grade point average value of 1.0, and is defined as "lowest acceptable progress"; and

5. Grade "F" equals zero through 59 percent, has a grade point average value of 0.0, and is defined as "failure."

Each of the foregoing grade point average values shall receive an additional 0.50 point for each honors course a student completes and an additional 1.0 point for each completed advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course.