Awarding of Credit or Extra Credit for Non-Academic Activities March 1998

Notice: This policy was reviewed, revised, and/or renamed. We provide this revision for historic purposes only. Please see our current policies and procedural directives.

This procedural directive was updated January 2023.

Philosophy

Academic progress is reported to parents and students through grades. Student activities unrelated to the purposes of a course of study should be rewarded or discouraged through other means than grades. No student should be placed at a disadvantage in a graded activity because of a lack of money to carry out a credit or extra-credit assignment.

Guidelines for Approval of Credit or Extra Credit for Non-Academic Activities

Teachers who propose to offer credit or extra credit to students for an activity not arising from course or subject competencies shall seek approval of the principal in advance. Each school may specify reasonable advance notice requirements and the proper means of making a request.
Principals shall verify that an academic purpose reasonably related to course or subject competencies is being met prior to approval of the activity. If this standard cannot be met, the principal may suggest an appropriate means of rewarding or acknowledgment of student activity, such as recognition programs or special privileges.
Principals should scrutinize proposed activities to be assured that students who are unable to spend or raise money are not being placed at a disadvantage in a graded or extra credit activity.
Schools will develop policies consistent with the above to provide more guidance regarding specific activities which will be approved or disapproved.

Cross Ref.: Board Policy I.16

NSBA/NEPN Classification: III - IIJ

Approved: March 1998

This page was last updated on: December 9, 2009.