House Bill 268

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "TRUTH IN GRADING ACT"; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF EACH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADOPT A UNIFORM GRADING POLICY BEFORE EACH SCHOOL YEAR; TO PRESCRIBE THE CRITERIA FOR THE GRADING POLICY ADOPTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO REQUIRE THE UNIFORM GRADING POLICY TO APPLY TO BOTH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT AND TO ADOPT APPROPRIATE EQUIVALENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AGE AND GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM OF THE STUDENTS TO WHOM THE GRADING POLICY APPLIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Truth in Grading Act."

SECTION 2. (1) The school board of each local school district shall adopt a uniform grading policy, including provisions for the assignment of grades on class assignments and examinations, before each school year. A district grading policy:

(a) Must require a classroom teacher to assign a grade that reflects the student's relative mastery of an assignment;

(b) May not require a classroom teacher to assign a minimum grade for an assignment without regard to the student's quality of work; and

(c) May allow a student a reasonable opportunity to make up or redo a class assignment or examination for which the student received a failing grade.

(2) When adopting a uniform grading policy, the local school board shall require the policy to be applied to both elementary and secondary schools. The school board shall not have any discretion in applying the uniform grading policy to secondary schools only. The school board shall adopt appropriate equivalents that are representative of the age and grade level curriculum of those students to whom the grading policy applies.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.