January 31, 2020
Re: Upcoming Credit Recovery Sessions at Belmont High School
Dear BHS Students and Parents/Guardians,
With Semester One grades having been posted, we are in a position wherein we are populating our Credit Recovery-eligible rosters. As noted in our Student Handbook and in teachers' Course Outlines/syllabi, BHS maintains two "qualifiers" for Credit Recovery:
Student A. The student received a final course grade (the average of all course standards) of 1.75 to 2.49, which is below the 2.5 minimum average required for a student to earn credit.
Student B. The student received a final course grade of 2.5 or greater; however, he/she has at least one standard score below the requisite 2. As a result, our Learning Management System (Empower) artificially dropped/recorded the student's score to a 2.49 as he/she is not in line to earn credit (unless he/she participates in Recovery and addresses the standards of concern to a satisfactory degree).
Recovery Dates (all Recovery sessions will be 2:45 - 4:15pm):
Week One: 2/5 and 2/6 (Wednesday and Thursday)
Week Two: 2/10, 2/12, 2/13, 2/14 (no Recovery on Tuesday, 2/11, as this is Primary Day - no school for students)
Week Three: 2/17 and 2/18 (Monday and Tuesday)
What can the student earn in Credit Recovery?
The primary goal of Credit Recovery is to allow students an extended opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in course standards and to earn credit toward graduation. As has been alluded to in previous communications regarding Recovery, a student is able to reach the "Minimum Passing Score" if he/she demonstrates proficiency in areas of need. In terms of the impact on students' course grades and GPA, please refer to the following:
Student A (from above), who earned a 1.75 or 2.49 course average: The student works toward the teacher's making the professional judgement that he/she has standard proficiency/scores that would result in the Minimum Passing Score of a 2.5 (for the course as a whole). The student will be awarded course credit and the transcript/GPA will reflect a new course grade of 2.5.
Student B (from above) whose course average was 2.5 or greater but at least one standard was scored below a 2: The student works to redeem the standard(s) that were reported as being below a 2 (the Minimum Passing Score in the standard for Student B). Upon this completion/designation, the student's overall course grade will return to what it was prior to Empower's artificially dropping the course score to 2.49. For example, if a student's course average was a 2.7 but one standard was reported by the teacher as a 1, Empower will have automatically reported a 2.49 course score. Upon the teacher's making the judgement that the student has reached at least the minimum passing score (a 2) in the standard, the course grade will return to a 2.7 (on the report card/transcript and applied to the student's cumulative GPA); the student will be awarded course credit.
What will I/my student work on during Recovery sessions?
The answer to this question is dependent upon the individual student's needs. Teachers will develop and communicate assignments/skills/outcomes that are required for learners to be awarded course credit(s). In some cases, through working with classroom teachers, students will have an active role and voice regarding how to demonstrate required course/standard scores; these interactions make this an individualized and collaborative approach to progressing in the student's education.
Can this work/support take place outside of the Recovery environment/timeframe?
This will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the classroom teacher. While our faculty/staff members are consistently available to work with students and provide additional supports during TLTs, before school, and/or after school, Semester Two courses have now begun. Therefore, please understand that a good deal of teachers' focus will be directed toward new courses and Semester-2 groups of students.
Athletics and Co-Curriculars Eligibility Implications:
Our Athletic Director, Mr. Belyea, will be sending an email to the school community (students, parents/guardians, faculty, staff, etc.), which will act as a reminder of our eligibility guidelines. Students who are deemed to be at any stage of ineligibility will be directly contacted; ineligibility impact(s) will take effect beginning Monday, 2/3/20.
What now?
If you/your student is represented by either of the two "Qualifier" scenarios, we strongly encourage you to participate in the Credit Recovery program. Doing so enables us to collaboratively maintain progress toward meeting graduation requirements - and to allow flexibility in student course selections in the future!
Be on the lookout for Eligibility Updates from Mr. Belyea.
Contact Belmont High School with any questions regarding Credit Recovery options and/or what will be required of you/your student in order to earn credit!
Thank you for your continued support and collaboration in providing our students the opportunities to learn, succeed, and grow!
Go Belmont!
Mr. Matthew Finch
Principal, Belmont High School
