by Ziv Golan ’26

MCPS implemented a new policy allowing for progress checks to be given to all students taking non-AP math classes with these tests accounting for 10 percent of the student’s grade in quarters 1 and 3. This is a significant change from previous years when these progress checks were not factored into students’ final grades. This change will push students to put more effort into actually understanding the material they learned throughout the quarter.

Since MCPS got rid of final exams more than 10 years ago, teachers across the county have complained of grade inflation and a lack of effort from students. The implementation of graded progress checks, created centrally by MCPS, will force students to practice study skills and demonstrate that they have proficiently learned the material of the country curriculum. Students who do not take AP classes have little idea of how to study or take any sort of final exam but with this new policy, every student will gain that experience once per semester. This non-retakeable assessment will make it more difficult for students to not focus in class and still pass by retaking everything. Students need to develop core math skills to move on to more advanced classes, and these tests will motivate students to truly understand what they are learning.