Carroll ISD trustees approved several changes to district policies including the standardization of gradable assignments and adjustments to how a student’s grade point average is calculated.
The changes were unanimously approved at the Aug. 17 meeting after staff originally presented the items during a work session Aug. 3.
What’s happening
To comply with changes to state law through Senate Bill 1191, CISD is updating its language on calculating a student’s grade point average, or GPA. The updates are also expected to increase the consistency and transparency of GPA calculations and reporting.
According to district documents, the calculation changes include:
- Assigning equal weight to all Advanced Placement, OnRamps dual enrollment, International Baccalaureate and non-career and technical education dual credit courses
- Giving an additional weight that is lesser than AP, OnRamps dual enrollment, IB and non-career and technical education dual credit courses to career and technical education dual credit courses
- Assigning an additional weight to honors courses
The changes will take effect for students entering seventh grade in the 2027-28 school year.
Additionally, CISD officials approved providing 10 weighted GPA points to students who participate in an activity all four years of high school, such as speech and debate, athletics, band, choir and theater. To receive the points, a student must complete four years in the same activity, and the credit can only be earned once, said Gina Peddy, CISD’s executive director for curriculum and instruction.
“This is about recognizing that education extends beyond what happens in the classroom,” Peddy said. “Our students are learning valuable lessons every day through their participation in athletics, band, choir, cheer, theater, speech and debate, robotics, [and the] Emerald Belles."
More details
Along with modifications to how a student’s GPA will be calculated, CISD will implement minimum and maximum numbers for major and minor assignments per grading period, according to district documents. At the middle and high school levels, there will be three or four major assignment grades and 10-14 minor assignment grades.
“We do give our teachers some flexibility in how they apply that, but there will now be the maximum, which we have not had in the past,” Peddy said.
All assignments must be graded out of 100 points, Peddy said. Middle school grades will be weighted at 50% each for major and minor assignments, while high school will be weighted 60% for major and 40% for minor assignments.
