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State rule change will add middle‑school high‑credit courses to high‑school GPA; board moves related policy to second reading
Summary
Under a state law change effective January 2026, courses taken in grades 7–8 that carry high‑school credit (like algebra, geometry and biology) must be included in students’ high‑school GPA; Barrington staff briefed the board and the board moved the policy to second reading.
Staff briefed the board on revisions to policy 6:315 to conform to a state law change (Public Act cited during the meeting) that requires high‑school credit earned in middle school to appear on the high‑school transcript and to be included in the student's high‑school grade‑point average.
The presenter said the district already offers middle‑school courses that confer high‑school credit—examples cited included algebra, geometry and biology—and that, pending board approval on second reading, those courses "will not only be transcripted, but will also be included in the student's high school GPA" beginning in the 2026‑27 school year. Staff noted this counts toward high‑school graduation requirements and may affect course planning; they confirmed that a student must successfully complete the course for it to count toward the high‑school GPA.
Board members asked for clearer family communications about how grades and GPA calculations will be displayed and used; staff committed to prepare explanatory materials for middle‑ and high‑school families so students and parents understand the transition. The board voted to move the policy to second reading.
