During the Oct. 20 meeting of the Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) board, several members raised concerns about a proposed amendment to Policy IKAB that would prohibit teachers from lowering academic grades because of late homework. The amendment, which would tie grades strictly to mastery of content standards, sparked a debate over teacher autonomy, student accountability, and how grades should reflect true learning.
Board members question the need for a blanket rule
Board member Ed Frank warned that setting a districtwide policy on late homework “is a huge mistake” and argued that teachers and their supervisors should retain discretion. Vice President Robert Wofford echoed this sentiment, noting that classroom writing workshops rely on timely drafts and that a rigid rule could penalize students who miss a deadline for legitimate reasons.
Board Secretary Patrick Nolan called the proposal “a solution looking for a problem,” while Board member Teresa Tenorio emphasized the importance of deadlines for teaching responsibility. She suggested that missed assignments be handled through communication between teachers and families rather than a top‑down mandate.
Administration defends the intent
Board President Pamela Cort, who helped draft the amendment with Deputy Superintendent Wendi Miller‑Tomlinson, said the goal is to ensure grades reflect what students know, not unrelated behaviors. Cort highlighted concerns for English‑language learners who may understand the material but receive lower grades because of language barriers.
“Even though it is my name on this policy with Dr. Miller‑Tomlinson, I would welcome any help in rewording and reworking,” Cort said. “I am not trying to take away teachers’ autonomy; I was a teacher for a long time.” Miller‑Tomlinson added that penalties for late work are behavioral, not mastery‑based, and should trigger interventions rather than automatic grade reductions.
Existing 40% minimum grading rule remains
The meeting also clarified a separate provision in the district’s grading regulations. While some board members believed the rule that prevents scores below 40% had been eliminated, Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz confirmed that the regulation still stands. Under Regulation IKAB‑R, teachers may assign a zero for work not submitted, but completed assignments that do not demonstrate mastery cannot receive a score below 40%.
This minimum does not guarantee a passing grade; it simply limits how low a teacher may score a completed assignment that falls short of mastery. The district’s 2025 revision also introduced a “No Evidence” category for work that provides no proof of learning.
Next steps
The proposal was read for the first time and no vote was taken. Cort and Miller‑Tomlinson indicated they will revise the language based on board feedback before the policy returns for a second reading. LCPS already requires middle and high school students to make up missed work within a set timeframe, typically one day per missed day, with exceptions for long‑term projects unless extenuating circumstances are approved.
Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.
