PDE added to the FAQ today with information about grading, promotion and attendance. The information is shown below and is also available on the PDE website in the FAQ document.

Student Grades and Promotion

How are LEAs to handle the provision of final grades and promotion of students during the statewide COVID-19 closures?

Calculating and assigning grades for coursework is the responsibility of each LEA. The Department encourages LEAs to assign grades based on the best information available. If students have not completed a course in its entirety, chief school administrators should consider if they have enough information to calculate and assign a final grade.

As is customary with grading policies, schools should ensure that all students and families are aware of how grades are determined, particularly if there are changes in grading practices due to extended school closures.

Prior to amending any grading policies, particularly policies at the secondary level, LEAs should consider how the change may impact students’ ability to enroll in postsecondary institutions after graduation or pursue other postsecondary pathways, including apprenticeships and employment. If there is a potential impact, LEAs should consider noting on student transcripts that courses were abbreviated or grading policies were amended for the 2019-20 school year, as a result of the pandemic, to ease students’ ability to pursue their chosen postsecondary pathways.

LEAs should provide support for students who are failing a course as of March 13, 2020 and provide them the opportunity, to the extent feasible, to demonstrate learning in the subject matter of the course and receive credit for the course.

How should LEAs handle promotion of students to the next grade level at the end of the 2019-20 school year?

LEAs are responsible to ensure that students anticipated to move to the next grade level are able to do so. No student should be restricted from completing their current year course requirements due to the pandemic of 2020.

Can summer school be offered to students if needed?

Summer school offerings, including credit recovery programs, are at the discretion of each LEA, but would be subject to any Commonwealth restrictions, closures, or social distancing recommendations that may be in effect at the time. Chief school administrators should consider availability of resources and access for students when offering summer school options.

Are LEAs required to report attendance to PDE during the statewide closure?

LEAs are not required to report student attendance to PDE during the closure, though they should create local expectations for student learning and take attendance for their local records. Students are expected to fully participate in continuity of education plans to the maximum extent possible. All LEAs should establish a process for tracking student learning and ensuring that all students are participating in continuity of education programming.