Department Policies

" 'Obvious' is the most dangerous word in mathematics" - Eric Temple Bell

In an effort to consolidate and maintain consistency throughout math courses, the Math Department has agreed upon the following department policies related to assignments, assessments and grading:

1) Grading Breakdown:

The math department uses a grade band approach to set guidelines for grading. This will ensure that expectations are known from year to year and are normalized between teachers. Our goal is that this will also help prepare students for their post-Hopkins education; as they progress through the grades, we move to a system where tests and “high stakes” assessments are the bulk of the grade, which is what many college classes have in place for their grading policies.

2) Test corrections:

Unless specified on an academic accommodation plan, assessment retakes and test corrections will not be allowed on an individual basis per department policy. Students are encouraged to complete all assignments and review material prior to a test so that they can be properly prepared.

3) Test timing:

Unless specified on an academic accommodation plan, tests will be completed within the allotted class time. Individual determinations will be made at the discretion of the teacher if students require a small amount of extra time to complete an assessment, but even within this stipulation any assessment must be completed the day it is given to the class. Students who are allotted extra time must complete assessments prior to the next math class period.

4) Late work:

Students will be asked to practice their math skills after each class. Assignments are checked in differently depending on the teacher; some classes have an assignment due after every class while others might have suggested practice but won't have items for turn in with the same frequency.

Overall department policy is to accept late work, but students should be aware that late work will be penalized unless proper notice is provided in advance.

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