New grading system a challenge for sports

That system was used to determine whether students were eligible to participate in sports.

At Stowe Middle/High School, grades were checked every two to three weeks. If any grades fell below 65 percent, that student could not participate in regular or postseason games until their grades rose above the minimum standard.

Peoples Academy in Morrisville used a tiered system. A student passing all courses with 70 percent or above was fully eligible, and wouldn’t be assessed again until the next report card. A student with one grade between 65 to 69, but passing all others with 70 or above, would be on probation with two weeks to bring that grade back up. And a student with two or more grades below 70 or one grade below 64 would be ineligible.

And at Lamoille Union High School, the yardstick was much the same: maintain a 65 percent or above in all classes to stay eligible.

Not anymore. The new grading system moves away from grades and test scores; it tailors education to individual needs, skills and interests. Student progress will no longer be measured by the average of scores on assignments; instead, a proficiency scale of 1 through 4 at Lamoille and 1 through 5 at Stowe and Peoples will be used.

Without percentages, the old version of tracking student eligibility for athletics is impractical.

Now, with the new grading rules, each school has to come up with a system to determine student eligibility for sports.

Lamoille South

The high schools in Stowe and Morristown are still exploring what to do.

Research shows participation in sports motivates students to participate actively in school, said Val Sullivan, curriculum director for the Lamoille South Supervisory Union, which covers both Stowe and the Elmore-Morristown school districts.

“So, at this point, we are paying closer attention to whether kids are coming to class, participating, and working to maintain proficiencies,” Sullivan said. “We want to let kids participate in sports as much as they can.”

At Peoples Academy, the athletic director will check the academic status every two to three weeks for all in-season athletes, with a particular focus on scholarly habits.

“If students are not completing work, participating in classes, taking advantage of supports, etc., the athletic director will meet with the student,” said Peoples Principal Phil Grant.

At that point, the student will receive a warning, and as progress is monitored, the coach, student, parents, athletics director and teacher will work together to determine if intervention is necessary to put the student back on track.

For instance, an intervention could be a one-game suspension — an effort to get the student’s attention. If that doesn’t refocus the student on academics, other consequences may follow.

In Stowe, the focus is more on attendance and behavior.

To participate, athletes must attend all their classes on the day of a game or practice — unless there’s a school-sponsored field trip, a pre-arranged college visit or medical appointment, or religious reason, with permission from the principal.

Student-athletes are also expected to behave in a “reasonable and appropriate manner” in and out of school.

“Eligibility hasn’t really been an issue in either of our schools. It’s not a real bugaboo for students,” Sullivan said. She doesn’t expect that to change under the new rules.

Lamoille Union

At Lamoille Union High School, athletics director Tim Messier and assistant principal Dana Jewett figured out the new rules together, focusing on both academics and transferable skills.

To participate in athletics, freshmen and sophomores must maintain a 2.6 or above in transferable skills while striving to maintain a 2.6 in all other proficiencies.

As juniors and seniors, student-athletes must be enrolled in and passing five classes — or four classes minimum for a senior on track to graduate and in good academic and behavioral standing.

The athletic director will monitor student progress at each report card distribution.

Students who are not meeting the minimum standards will be given 10 days to demonstrate improvement and progress. During that time, they can continue to attend practices and home games, but won’t be able to play in any games or travel with the team to away games, in the belief that the time should be used to improve academically.

Progress will continue to be monitored throughout the year and, if issues persist, additional help may be available.

After the 10-day probationary period, a final decision will be made about eligibility or playing status.

“This is the second year and, with anything new, there’s that initial ‘Oh no, what are we going to do,’” Messier said. “But we are a small enough school that teachers can get ahold of me and we can handle any issues as they come up.”