FCPS’s new late work policy for the 2023-2024 school year changes the minimum grade a student can receive for assignments they did not make an attempt on from a 50% to a zero. This is a positive measure designed not only to provide teachers with a way to accurately report a student’s progress, but it also provides the framework for an equitable relationship between student and instructor.
In years previous, any assignment a student chose not to submit received a mandatory minimum of 50%. This meant that hypothetically, if a student refused to make any effort to submit an assignment, they would still receive half of the credit. Under the old system, teachers were not able to accurately portray their students’ efforts to succeed and learn in the class, deluding the entire point of students practicing the skills needed to excel.
One positive brought up by students regarding the old policy is that it allowed students some leeway in managing their time efficiently, particularly in relation to jobs, extracurriculars, or other activities. While this is true, it should also be noted that students will only receive zeros on assignments they did not attempt to accomplish. According to FCPS, any task a student made to demonstrate “a reasonable attempt to show evidence of their learning” would still be given a mandatory minimum of 50%, no matter its quality. Even with the addition of other stressful activities, this is an accomplishable objective. Additionally, when students sign up to take a class, they acknowledge the basic content they will be learning and the difficulty of the class. Meaning they should be aware if their outside activities will come into conflict with the class. If this is not the case, however, students also have the ability to opt out of a class towards the beginning of the school year, granted their guidance counselors are free to help guide them through that process.
With the new policy in place, not only will students be properly rewarded for assignments that they complete efficiently, but they will also be given a realistic expectation for their lives beyond their time in high school. College students and members of the workforce are not rewarded for work they do not complete. In college, if one doesn’t complete an assignment, they receive a zero and oftentimes are not given many more chances to complete for a late-work grade. Moreover, workers are paid according to the amount of the work that they complete, especially in part-time environments. If a person doesn’t do the work they were hired to, they will not be paid. By implementing the new policy, FCPS better prepares its students for life outside of mandatory public school.
The incomplete work policy newly put into effect by FCPS is not only a fantastic way to better prepare students for what comes after high school, but a much improved outlet for teachers to monitor their students’ progress in class.
