Mississippi House Bill HB147

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/23
• Refer: 1/4/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Teachers; revise duties and responsibilities relating to student assessment and achievement before promotion.

Impact

The enactment of HB 147 will significantly alter how grades are assigned in Mississippi's public schools. It seeks to protect students from unfair or biased academic evaluations by prohibiting rigid grading criteria and requiring instructors to justify any disputed grades. While aiming to enhance fairness and accuracy in student assessments, the bill also reinforces the need for clear communication of grading standards to both students and parents, thus fostering accountability in the educational process.

Summary

House Bill 147 aims to reform student grading policies in Mississippi by mandating that local school districts allow instructors to assess students using a raw grading scale. This means each teacher will determine the level of intensive instruction and intervention needed for students based on their performance rather than adhering strictly to arbitrary percentage standards. The bill emphasizes the requirement for instructors to maintain high instructional standards and to base grades solely on student achievement relative to course and grade level standards, unaffected by factors like class size or group dynamics.

Contention

Points of contention surrounding the bill include the potential challenges it poses for maintaining uniform grading practices across diverse classrooms, where subjective evaluations may lead to inconsistencies. Critics argue that while individual assessments may better reflect student understanding, they could also introduce variability that complicates the comparison of student performance at broader levels. Further, the administrative burden of justifying grades and maintaining detailed records could be overwhelming for teachers already managing large classes and various responsibilities.