NSTA Reports Grade Negotiations

Navigating Grade Negotiation Attempts
A few months ago, a teacher asked colleagues on a NSTA members-only e-mail list for advice on responding to a request from a student’s parent to raise the student’s grade. Several educators responded, sharing their own stories of students, parents, and even administrators who demanded grades be revised or additional work assigned to a student. It got us wondering: How often are teachers faced with grade negotiations, and what are the best ways to handle these requests?

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Have you ever been asked to change a student’s final grade after the semester or course ended?

Yes

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How frequently does this occur?

At least once a semester

At least once a year

Once every few years

Hardly ever

I’ve never received a grade-change request

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Who asks for grade changes?

Students

Parents

Students and parents

Administrators

All of the above

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Have you been asked to assign additional or extra-credit work so a student can raise his/her final grade in a course?

Yes

Question Title

When you are asked, how is the situation most often resolved?

The grade does not change.

The student does additional work to raise the grade.

The grade is changed without the student doing additional work.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Have you ever been asked to change a student’s final grade after the semester or course ended?

Question Title

How frequently does this occur?

Question Title

Who asks for grade changes?

Question Title

Have you been asked to assign additional or extra-credit work so a student can raise his/her final grade in a course?

Question Title

When you are asked, how is the situation most often resolved?

Question Title

What is your best strategy for responding to grade negotiations?