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 assingments 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, the Ross Sheppard High School teacher who defied his principal's directive and gave his students zeros.

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

Hoffman says the new policy has nothing to do with the issues at Ross Sheppard High School because a grading review was already in the works.

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.