On Board Online • February 4, 2019

By Kimberly A. Fanniff
Senior Staff Counsel

In a pair of recent decisions, the commissioner of education upheld the actions a school district took in response to an incident of cheating. In Appeal of L.M. (Dec. No. 17,561) and Appeal of S.B. (Dec. No. 17, 563), the commissioner held that awarding a grade of zero is permissible when, after an investigation and opportunity to be heard, a student is found to have compromised even one portion of an exam.

Decisions regarding student grading are the responsibility of each classroom teacher, according to the commissioner.