HB727: Statewide uniform grading policy; requires Board of Education to establish.

HOUSE BILL NO. 727

Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 11, 2012
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-- Dudenhefer

Referred to Committee on Education

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.

A. The Board shall establish a statewide uniform grading policy beginning with the entering sixth and ninth grade classes of the 2012-2013 academic school year that interprets end-of-course grades used for students in public schools in grades six through 12 as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

B. Local school divisions shall have the authority to set the numerical value of, and assign "plus (+)" and "minus (-)" grades within, the above prescribed grade point average values described in this section. Each of the grade point average values described in this section 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.