Draft policy ends 'no-zero' grading in Edmonton public schools

A new draft policy from Edmonton Public Schools could put an end to the controversial "no-zero" policy that cost a local high school teacher his job.

According to the draft released on Friday, a student's grade will be based on completion of assignments and "may include a range of performance grades on individual assignments" from A-D and 0-100%.

"We think, as a committee, what we proposed is to make sure that it is clear that students can receive grades from Ds to As and from zeros to 100," said board chairwoman Sarah Hoffman.

"Students can earn zeros in Edmonton public schools and we think it's important to make sure that that's stated in the actual policy."

The policy was created by a committee struck to review student assessment in the wake of the controversy involving Lynden  Dorval, a physics teacher at Ross Sheppard High School.

Dorval ignored a directive from his principal and gave students zeros for work that wasn't handed in or tests that weren't taken.

Dorval was suspended and later fired. He is now teaching part-time at a private school in Edmonton.

Although the grading review was announced in June, just after Dorval's situation made headlines, Hoffman says the direction in the draft document is unrelated because the board was already planning to look at the policies. 

"We did definitely expedite this one to make sure that we could address some of the public concerns that were brought forward," she said. "But this is completely separate."

Hoffman says the policy will apply to every school under the board's jurisdiction.

"Once a policy is passed, it's administered through the superintendent's office and the expectation is that all schools will follow policies," she said. 

"There are checks and balances in place to make sure that every policy is being implemented in every school."

The draft policy will get first reading at Tuesday's public school board meeting. The public has six weeks to offer input.