District of Columbia Public Schools | August 2021 Page 9 of 11
DCPS Secondary Grading and Reporting Policy
shall appear at the hearing to represent the student. One of these individuals shall be given the
opportunity to present the student’s case and, upon request, to question the involved teacher and to be
duly informed of the panel’s recommendations.
37
Each appeals panelist, including the chair, shall have an equal vote; however, two (2) voting members
can render a decision.
38
In the case of a tie vote, the initial grade is deemed to be upheld by the Appeals
Panel.
39
The Appeals Panel's recommendation shall be forwarded immediately to the principal or
Chancellor’s designee who shall issue the Panel's decision within ten (10) school days after the hearing.
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The student, his or her parent/guardian, or duly authorized representative may appeal the decision of
the Appeals Panel by writing to the Chancellor’s official grade appeal designee within ten (10) school
days after receipt of the decision.
41
When an appeal of the Appeals Panel’s decision is filed, the
Chancellor’s official grade appeal designee shall review all documentation submitted and issue the final
administrative decision in the matter.
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This written determination shall be issued within five (5) school
days of the review
and consideration
of all submi
tted evidence.
43
In these appeals of the Appeals Panel’s
decision, the burden to show why the grade(s) in question should be changed shall be on the student or
his or her parent or guardian, and strict rules of evidence shall not apply.
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2. Other Grade Appeals
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A parent or student has the right to seek to amend educational records believed to be inaccurate,
misleading, or in violation of a student’s privacy. An initial grade appeal shall be in writing and shall be
directed to the school principal.
The school principal shall immediately notify, in writing, the affected teacher of the challenge and ask
the teacher to provide all tangible, pertinent, detailed, and dated records to substantiate the grade
given.
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Within ten school days of receipt of the appeal, the principal shall review and consider all
submitted records with the challenging party or representative and the teacher, and issue a
determination in writing. Please note that if any grade modifications are made pursuant to this grade
challenge process, the principal must notify the affected teacher in writing prior to the grade
modification and include the reasons for the modification.
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37
5-B DCMR § 2103.13.
38
5-B DCMR § 2103.14.
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5-B DCMR § 2103.15.
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5-B DCMR § 2103.16.
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5-B DCMR § 2103.17.
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5-B DCMR § 2103.18.
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5-B DCMR § 2103.19.
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5-B DCMR § 2103.19.
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5-E DCMR § 2602 provides regulations related to this process.
46
Collective Bargaining Agreement Between The Washington Teachers Union Local #6 of the American Federation
of Teachers and The Dis
trict of Columbia Public Sch
ools; October 1, 2016
– September 30, 2019; Art. 19.1.1
, available at https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-and-wtu-collective-bargaining-agreement-2016-2019.
47
Collective Bargaining Agreement Between The Washington Teachers Union Local #6 of the American Federation
of Teachers and The Dis
trict of Columbia Public Schools; Oct
ober 1, 2016
– September 30, 2019; Art. 19.1.
2
, available at https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-and-wtu-collective-bargaining-agreement-2016-2019.