PEORIA, IL -- I missed the January 11 meeting of the Peoria District 150 School Board but activist/critic Sharon Crews was there.  Here is her report for the public comments: 

The advantage of having a superintendent that knows Peoria and Peorians is evident by Bradley’s gift of 5300 basketball game tickets to use as rewards for students. Remember last year the District paid for tickets. Also, I applaud this administration for holding a special jobs fair in December in the hopes of filling teaching jobs and other positions. Also, I am pleased with the efforts to revive the district’s music program and the response from the community in helping with the need for musical instruments.

I certainly appreciate Dr. Kherat’s and Susan Grzanich’s efforts to answer my questions about Compass Learning—questions that do not lend themselves to inquiries through the FOIA process.

I wish I could say that what I learned gives me more confidence in Compass Learning. I still see summer school as the only effective way for students to make up failed courses.

The Compass Learning requirements meet the Illinois Standard Course of Study, and the Curriculum Department has identified the content.

For purposes of credit recovery, Compass Learning divides a course’s content into modules. Each module addresses specific components of a course. Each module requires 25 hours at the computer and earns .5 credit if a student completes 80% of the work with the required minimum hours and receives a 60 or above on the unit test. Students cannot do any work at home. Credit recovery grades do not replace failing grades on the transcript; the F remains on the transcript. The grade is recorded as a credit recovery grade.

These answers give rise to the following questions:

How many modules at 25 hours each must be taken to earn a semester grade?

Who decides which or how many modules must be taken to make up for a course failure?

How does a partial course grade (just one or two modules) show up on the transcript and how much credit is given?

How many modules are required to make up a failed course? Are credit recovery grades pass or fail or is a letter grade earned?

Can credit recovery grades raise or lower grade point averages?

If a student doesn’t make up a required course with Compass Learning, how or when is the course retaken?

To me, this system does not present a consistent, fair, or viable way of making up courses. Please find a way to return high school summer school. - 30 -

 

Comments

[Jessica]

Just some insight as a high school teacher that might help Sharon and other understand Credit Recovery better...

Each Credit Recovery course is assigned as semester class. If I failed English 1 Semester 1, I would take a Credit Recovery class that covers that content. Each course has a different number of modules based on how the content is set up. Teachers have no control over the modules; that's all up to Compass. The Compass program also keeps track of how many assignments and modules are in one class' folder.

One whole class' folder is 100%. The program keeps track of the number of assignments completed and figures put the percentage completed automatically. Students can't just do one or two modules. If you are a signed a Credit Recovery, you have to complete 80% of the entire course content, however many modules and assignments that is for that course.

A student can technically work on one Credit Recovery course (which is the equivalent of a semester credit) for one school year. If they do not finish the 80% of assignments, they receive no credit from the course. Credit Recovery is not pass/fail. If they do finish at least 80% but fail (under 60%), they get no credit for the course. If they finish and pass, they get whatever grade they earned.

If a student doesn't take the Credit Recovery class to earn failed credits, they retake that class the following school year.

I hope this is easy to understand. If it is not, please ask questions.