Superintendent provides update to grading policy and video guidelines

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

PWCS is continuing its work to provide a more consistent, transparent, and equitable grading system across all schools. Last year, PWCS revised Policy 661, “Assessment and Grading Practices,” ensuring grading practices that truly reflect student learning and promote academic success for every child. Please be sure to review the “Assessment and Grading Practices” policy.

At the School Board meeting on Wednesday night, PWCS shared revised regulations under Policy 661. An important part of these changes is an updated grading scale for the next school year for grades 6–12 that will include minus letter grades. Additionally, there will be consistency in grading practices across PWCS schools. Details on the changes and the new 6-12 grading scale can be found in the presentation to the School Board. As this work moves forward, additional information will continue to be shared throughout the summer and early fall.

As announced earlier this week, starting next school year, students will no longer be able to access YouTube directly on their PWCS-issued devices, both in school and at home. This includes YouTube.com and the YouTube app. While online video can be a valuable instructional resource, access to YouTube, even with filters that limit viewing to education-related content, can present challenges in maintaining a focused and productive learning environment. In practice, students can move beyond an assigned YouTube video to other content, leading to potential distractions. Currently, there is not an effective, reliable way within YouTube to consistently limit students to a single video within the YouTube platform.

As a result, this change is intended to better support student engagement and appropriate technology use, supporting both teachers and families. PWCS will continue to evaluate and refine how instructional technology is used in classrooms to ensure it is purposeful, age-appropriate, minimizes disruption, and supports student success. As part of this evaluation, the feedback of teachers, administrators, and families will be used to help formulate clear guidelines. Families should expect to receive additional information about instructional technology changes prior to the start of the upcoming school year.

As a reminder, on Wednesday, May 27, schools and offices are closed in observance of Eid al-Adha. I hope you enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend. I extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all U.S. military personnel and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great nation.

Sincerely,

LaTanya D. McDade, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Prince William County Public Schools