Uniform Grading Policy (revised September 3, 2021) 

• Each student’s academic performance is based upon the department’s established grading criteria.
• Every teacher is to explain the grading criteria orally and in writing at the beginning of each term.
• The grading criteria should be prominently displayed in class. 
• Attendance is not to be used as a data point when calculating grades. 
• Students not present for school are to be given multiple opportunities, which are documented, to make-up missing work regardless of the reason for their absence. 
• A student’s Guidance Counselor and Advisor must be made aware of students that do not complete make-up work so that they can support the student. 
• Families should be made aware of students that are missing work. 
• Continued failure to submit missing work should be escalated to the Assistant Principal of the Department. 
• Hudson High School of Learning Technologies operates with three discrete Marking Periods per semester.  
• Students will receive a grade for their work in each Marking Period.  
• The final grade will be the average of a student’s results for each of the three preceding Marking Periods.  
• Marking Period grades are NOT cumulative. 
• The lowest grade a student can earn is a 55.   

Assessments (Exams, Projects, Essays): 60%-70% 

• Exams take a minimum of one period to complete and should mirror the format of the culminating assessment for the course. This includes short responses and extended written components for courses whose culminating assessment include these (eg: DBQs, etc.).
• Projects should include multiple components, which culminate into the final product. As such, a student that completes some or all of the components but does not turn in the final product can still earn some credit for the work they have completed. 
• Essays should reflect the writing process and opportunities for students to integrate actionable feedback offered by both their teachers and peers. 

Classwork/Participation:  20%-25% 
Any work done during the class period that demonstrates student learning and is aligned to course 
goals and objectives will be calculated as part of the students’ final grade. This may include, but is 
not limited to, independent practice, group work, Do Now activities, quizzes, participation in class 
discussions, participation in class activities and so forth.

• Quizzes should not exceed 15 minutes in length. 

Homework/Activities: 10%-15% 
Homework is assigned at the discretion of the teacher and comprises meaningful activities that 
enhance student learning. In courses where larger assignments or projects are assigned in lieu of 
daily homework assignments teachers may opt to redistribute the percentage points in this category.

*Special Note on Advanced Placement Examinations: 
Students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses are expected to take the accompanying AP 
Exam at the end of the school year. These courses carry greater weight than regular courses and 
students may receive college credit based on their score on the AP Exam; however, performance on 
the AP exam is not a determinant of the student’s final grade in the AP course.

*Special Notes on Physical Education: 
According to Academic Policies set forth the New York State Department of Education and by the New York City Department of Education, students who are medically excused from physical education must still participate in the course and must receive a grade. Therefore, physical education teachers will provide appropriate alternative learning activities for students who are medically excused, including alternate physical activities as deemed appropriate by a teacher, or reading/writing assignments that are aligned to course goals and objectives.

Making up Assignments
It is the policy of the New York City Department of Education and the Commissioner’s Regulations 
that students who have been absent from class are to be given a reasonable opportunity to make up 
any missed work including class work and examinations.

Grading Scale: 
● Numerical passing grades can be any number from 65 to 100. 
● Hudson High School of Learning Technologies failing grade is a 55 with the exception of a grade of NS. 

• Any non-numerical grade must be approved the Assistant Principal of the Department.

● During marking periods 1 and 2, a student can receive a failing grade of 60, which can help with their overall average for the end of the term. 
● No grades between 55 and 64 are given as final grades.
●  Science Lab classes receive a P or F only. 

Teachers must speak to their immediate supervisor before entering any Special Marks listed below:
● NS - Student never attended the class. 
● NX - When a student has a documented extenuating circumstance that has made them incapable of completed work during the term. Documentation must be on file. Students have one semester to resolve the NX.
● NL - Students was admitted to the class late in the marking period and the teacher was not able to adequately assess the student’s level of proficiency. 
● All students who receive an NX or an NL for a final semester grade have until the end of the following semester to make up the work and receive a credit for those courses.

Credit for Courses: 
● One term of a class will give one credit if the student passes the course, with the following exceptions: 
Physical Education (0.5 credit), Right to Read (.50), and Advisory (.50).
● Advanced Placement Courses: 
All Advanced Placement courses will carry additional weight towards the overall Weighted GPA.
This means a student who passes all of their classes can have a Weighted GPA higher than 4.0, which
may be an advantage in applying for colleges.

Student Absences: 
● Students are encouraged to meet our school’s goal of 90% attendance to their courses. 
● There is no such thing as an excused absence, only a documented absence. Absences may impact a student’s
    grade if they are unable to demonstrate mastery of course content. 
● Students who miss an assessment will be given an opportunity to make-up the assessment. Teachers will work with students to schedule this. 
● It is the policy of the NYC DOE and the Commissioner’s Regulations that students who have been absent 
   from class are to be given a reasonable opportunity to make up any missed work including classwork and 
   examinations.

Feedback on Student Performance: 
● Teachers update grades each week using Pupilpath. Parents can request digital access to Pupilpath from the
    Parent Coordinator or Mr. Marques Donovan (Computer Technician).
● Report cards are distributed at the end of each marking period. Students receive a comment for each grade they earn.  Students that have earned failing grades receive two comments.
● Students will receive their number of lab minutes in the lab section of their Science course (only applies to 
    Regents courses).

Semester-Based Grading Policy: 

• Each marking period stands alone. This means that students begin, fresh, each marking period. This approach ensures that students are given every opportunity to bounce back from a “bad” marking period.  
• The final grade for each semester is the average of the preceding three marking period grades. 
• Science Lab Teachers (Earth Science, Living Environment) are required to create a lab tracker in Google Sheets for every student in their class, each teacher must share with AP Lafergola, and Principal Wilson.
• Teachers are required to report the number of lab minutes in the comments on the lab class in the marking period comments so parents/guardians and students can view it. Lab comments are not required for end of year report cards.

Appealing a Final Grade: 
Students have the right to appeal a grade. In order to appeal a teacher’s final grade, students must present all documentation, including graded assignments, to the teachers to argue their case. If the teacher denies the appeal, the student may appeal to the Department Assistant Principal who will make a determination for the final grade based on the evidence provided. The student may then appeal the decision of the Assistant Principal to the Principal who has the option of changing the grade after notifying the teacher in writing of the reason(s) for the change.

*Hudson High School of Learning Technology’s School-Wide Grading Policy and Philosophy conforms to Chancellor’s Regulation A-210, A-501, and by the NYC Department of Education of the Students’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, dated June 1993, and the NYCDOE High School Academic Policy Reference Guide, 2016. 

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