Texas Senate Bill SB79

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 3/2/11
• Introduced: 11/8/10
• Voted on by Senate: 3/17/11
• Refer: 1/31/11
• Out of House Committee: 5/11/11
• Report Pass: 3/2/11
• Engrossed: 3/17/11
• Refer: 3/30/11
• Report Pass: 5/3/11

Caption

Relating to the contents and applicability of a school district's grading policy.

Impact

The enactment of SB79 will have significant implications for how schools across Texas formulate their grading policies. By instituting a standardized approach, the bill aims to enhance the credibility of the grading process and ensure that students are evaluated based on their actual performance and understanding of content. This legislative effort comes in response to concerns about inconsistencies in grading practices which may impact student motivation and educational outcomes. The common framework set by the bill could also help parents and stakeholders to have clearer expectations about grading standards.

Summary

SB79 is a legislative act aimed at establishing uniform guidelines for grading policies within Texas school districts. The bill mandates that each school district adopt a grading policy before the start of each school year. Specifically, it emphasizes that grades assigned by classroom teachers must accurately reflect a student's mastery of the subject matter, avoiding practices such as grade inflation. Furthermore, the bill allows for reasonable opportunities for students to make up or redo assignments in cases where they received failing grades, thereby promoting academic fairness.

Contention

While the intent behind SB79 is to promote academic integrity and fairness, there may be points of contention regarding the specifics of implementation. Educators might raise concerns about the lack of flexibility in grading systems that they believe are necessary to address the diverse needs of students. For instance, some educators advocate for a more individualized approach to grading that takes into account differing learning paces and styles. The balance between maintaining academic standards and offering support for struggling students could lead to debates among educators, administrators, and policymakers.