Texas schools consider different grading systems with COVID-19

School officials may consider new grading policies with the shift to remote learning, but that doesn’t stop the need for education.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced school buildings and classrooms will not reopen for the rest of this academic year.

“For Texas school districts, that means that the physical property is closed,” Port Arthur Independent School District (ISD) Superintendent Mark Porterie said in a district YouTube video, according to 12News. “However, instruction still remains. It does not mean that school is over.”

School systems may adopt different grading systems such as a pass, fail or incomplete policy, according to 12News. Students who complete the work will pass. If they fail to complete assignments or don’t communicate with their teachers, they’ll earn either a failing grade or be given an incomplete mark.

If a student fails or receives an incomplete, they will be requires to attend summer school in Vidor, 12News reported. Other schools want more guidance from the Texas Education Agency before they upgrade their grading policies.

Port Arthur ISD plans changes, but the district’s policy was incomplete. Porterie said in the video that students need to understand that not being able to attend school in a classroom doesn’t mean school is canceled. 

"The gap would be so wide if you did nothing from now until August. It would be almost impossible to catch up," Porterie told 12News.

Seniors need to commit to a certain number of hours to make up failing grades in end of course tests or some of their classes. By calling a teacher or principal, Porterie told 12News there is no reason why a senior student won’t be able to graduate this year.

School districts are using different methods to calculate grade point averages for this academic year.