RETAKES: A THING OF THE PAST

A STUDENT MID CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING; PHOTO BY JULIETA ORTIZ

The new math policy was put in motion at the beginning of the second semester, on January 6th, 2025. The changes were made to promote understanding, responsibility, and accountability for students. Previously, tests or summative assessments were worth 80% of a student’s grade while homework was worth 20%. Now, tests are worth 60% and homework is worth 40%, tests are still worth more than homework but giving more weight to the homework category, encourages students to do their homework, which will also help them in the test category by giving them extra practice.

Within the homework category, there are three subcategories or types of homework assignments. These include Lesson Checks (LC), Check for Understanding (CFU), and Assignments. Lesson Checks are a new thing for math classes at Clear Creek Amana High School. It’s a short quiz at the beginning of each class covering the topics that were learned in the lesson in the previous class. Notes are not allowed, they are not able to be retaken, and there is a strict time limit unless a student has personal accommodation plans. While they are good for promoting preparedness and accountability, the time limit and the inability to redo it can be stressful for some students. They are graded based on accuracy. Students who are absent on the day of a Lesson Check take a different version of the quiz. 

Check For Understanding is an open-note homework assignment completed in Schoology outside of class. CFUs are also graded on accuracy but can be retaken, students get up to three attempts. Assignments are also open-note paper worksheets that can be redone. Answer keys are also available for students to check their work. Assignments and CFUs can be turned in up to a week after the assessment for full credit.

Another change, arguably the biggest, is the removal of retakes. The reasoning behind this decision is, again, to promote responsibility and accountability on the student's part but also because too many students abused the privilege of retakes. Meaning, not doing homework or paying attention, then failing tests, and then retaking them every time. Of course, this is a problem and banning retakes is one solution. But what about the rest of the students who did not partake in that?              

There are other possible solutions that would still promote responsibility but would not be unfair to students who did not misuse the retakes previously. For example, retakes could be limited but not completely abolished for students who get their homework completed and on time. Then retakes could be limited to one retake a semester to still encourage students to be prepared for the tests but have the option to retake just in case of a fluke. Sometimes people still make little mistakes despite having a good understanding of a topic, especially in math. As for students who did previously misuse retakes, they could get retakes completely taken away. 

Retakes can reduce test anxiety and further promote learning. For instance, if a student takes a test and isn't happy with their score and can retake they will be more likely to review the material, study, and practice more until they master the skill before they retake it. On the contrary, if a student doesn't do well on a test but does not have the option to retake, the likelihood of them going back to review and master the skill is slim to none because that won't improve their score. 

Banning retakes for everyone because of the actions of some is unfair to all the students who never misused them. The unfairness of collective consequences discourages well-behaved students and makes them feel like there's no point in doing the right thing if other people don't and they have to face the consequences anyway.

Overall, the new math policy does a good job of promoting responsibility and accountability for students. But perhaps we could take a step back from an all-or-nothing perspective and consider all students while still holding people accountable but without taking away from students who had not misused the previous policy.