Board narrows grading scale changes; removes E rating, limits S/NS to selected subjects

The Madison County Board of Education on July 17 approved revisions to district grading and promotion policies that remove the "E" (excellent) grade and narrow Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory entries to a handful of subjects, while aligning promotion language with state literacy and numeracy requirements. Under the changes approved by the board, the district will use S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory) — sometimes described in the discussion as "S and U" — only for handwriting, music, physical education and art. Social studies and science will retain traditional grades, the board heard. Staff told the board that earlier drafts had included an "E" designation in certain subjects and had proposed S/NS for science and social studies. After review by staff and association representatives, the committee recommended dropping the "E" and limiting S/NS to the four arts/handwriting areas. Staff also said promotion criteria for grades 1'3 and grades 4'6 were revised to align with the state's literacy and numeracy act; the language was changed from separate references to "reading and language" to a single English-language-arts block, and science and social studies were removed from promotion language tied to those acts. A staff speaker summarized the committee's rationale: "The recommendations was is that they they were not at a point for social studies and science, so they've removed that piece." The speaker added that the committee received input from association presidents and staff before finalizing changes. Board members moved and seconded the motion to adopt the grading and promotion updates; the transcript records a voice vote approving the policies. The changes affect elementary grading and promotion frameworks and will be communicated to principals and teachers as the district prepares for the school year.