Schools Division and Academic Programs
- Overview
- Academic Calendar
- Athletics
- Board Approved Documents
- Cultural Passport Initiative
- Exceptional Student Education
- Fine Arts
- Guidance & Counseling
- Homeless and Foster Care
- JROTC
- Leadership Development Programs
- Mental Health Support
- Physical Education, Health Education, & Drivers Education
- Police
- School Improvement
- Senior Connections
- Student Attendance, Discipline & Support
- Transparency Reports
- Work Permits
- 5000 Role Models
Announcements
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2021 Changes to Grading and Assignments
Please find below a Frequently Asked Questions document available for download, a brief video providing an overview for 2021 Changes to Grading and Assignments by Deputy Superintendent Iranetta Wright, and the letter sent to families, parents, students and staff from Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti.
Download the document here: Final Semester 2 Online Learning Guidance
Superintendent's Letter to Families, Parents, Students, Staff - February 3, 2021
Students, Families, Teachers, and DPSCD Staff,
The following statement is starting to be a cliché, which I try to avoid; however, in this pandemic, unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. After a semester of online learning, we must make some changes to improve student motivation and attendance. Too many students are struggling for reasons they cannot control. We must do what we can to keep all of our students and families engaged in the learning process as fears and concerns related to returning to in person learning and teaching are addressed and overcome.
We created an Online Learning Task Force to review, adjust, and specify initial recommendations to improve online learning. This Task Force consisted of teachers, support staff, families, students, school based leaders, and community members. I deeply thank their engagement and involvement; their feedback led to the following initial recommendations for changes. More improvements and changes will be forthcoming.
The set of changes below will be implemented with the start of the second semester for at least the rest of this school year. Some of the changes will be retroactively applied to last semester. See below for those examples. I want to be clear and direct. This is NOT about lowering standards for our students or “watering down” expectations. Many school districts which are considered “higher performing” have implemented similar changes. More relevant and more importantly, these changes provide students and their families with evidence that as a district we are listening to them and their concerns, that we are problem solving to provide them with a path to be successful in these difficult times. No one, including students and families, is asking for something they have not earned. If the strongest critics of these changes take a minute to reflect on the changes and what they mean for student engagement, effort, and persistence then one would see that all grades are still EARNED and there is still accountability for students who are not attending online classes or engaging in their learning through the “No Credit” grade.
More guidance and details can be found here.
In addition to these changes, the district will be introducing incentives for students and families regarding outstanding and improved attendance.
Thank you for all that you do for our students!
Nikolai P. Vitti. Ed.D.
Superintendent
Detroit Public Schools Community District
- Graded assignments will be limited to one per subject in grades K-2 and two per subject for grades 3-12. 6-12 will include elective classes. This does not include quizzes or tests. Teachers will provide a breakdown of assignments and tests each Monday for the week. Additional assignments for advanced high school courses. Additional assignments can be issued but cannot be graded.
- Students may submit late assignments within a 10 school-day window and resubmit assignments for improved grades. Both must be done before the last 10 days of the quarter.
- Homework (outside of graded assignments to be completed after direct instruction) will be limited to reading assignments or studying.
- Students may retake quizzes and tests up to two times to demonstrate their understanding of the content.
- We will now use a “G” letter grade for credit (former “Ds” and “No Credit (NC)” in Grades 3-12 for “Fs”. “Fs” will be removed from transcripts and replaced with “NC” to prevent negative impacts on GPAs. “Ds” would become “Gs” and will generate credit but not impact GPAs. This will be retroactively applied to Semester 1 and Semester 2 grades through the district’s student information system.
- Students who earn a 50% or higher will earn a “G” (50-69% range, rather than 60-69%).
- Students attending and participating in 80% of the quarter’s classes cannot receive a grade lower than a “D” or “G”.
Schools Division and Academic Programs
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Welcome to the Office of the Deputy Superintendent. Under the leadership of Iranetta Wright, the Office of the Deputy Superintendent oversees school administrators, leads professional learning for administrators, implements district policy, implements research-based best practices, manages organizational structures and functions, and assures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
The Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Schools works with multiple stakeholders to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of our schools with the goal of building brighter futures for every student attending DPSCD, which will manifest in every DPSCD student being college and career ready upon graduation.About Iranetta Wright
Ms. Iranetta Wright, serves of the Deputy Superintendent of Schools for Detroit Public Schools Community District. Ms. Wright has strategic leadership for schools, principals and principal supervisors, special education, arts, music, physical education, leadership development, guidance and counseling, JROTC, athletics, school improvement, climate and culture, homeless services, safety, police and mentoring.
During Ms. Wright’s tenure she has been instrumental in:
- Reorganizing and restructuring of the Exceptional Student Education Department, Athletics and the police department
- Establishing an office of climate and culture with specific focus on school support, PBIS, homelessness and student mentoring
- Revising the Student Code of Conduct to include restorative practices
- Implementing an alternative school program for high school students
- Establishing culture support positions at each school, including Dean of Student, Attendance Agent and School Culture Facilitator
- Assisting with the adoption of a grade level aligned K-8 curriculum
- Establishing art or music and physical education at each K-8 school
- Implementing and organizing a cultural passport program which allows all K-5th grade students at least three field trips to cultural locations throughout the city
- Establishing a Leadership Development program for current and aspiring leaders
Contact Information
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Iranetta Wright
Deputy Superintendent of Schools
3011 W. Grand Blvd., 14th Floor, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 873-6893
Assistant Superintendent's for DPSCD Schools
3011 West Grand Blvd, 9th Floor, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 873-1951Looking for your school’s Assistant Superintendent?
Nidia Ashby
K-8 SchoolsDr. Shaun Black
K-8 SchoolsLeenet Campbell-Williams
K-8 SchoolsDr. Lawrence Rudolph
High SchoolsDana Hughes
CTC Adult Education
Crystal Warren
Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendents
(313) 873-1951