At the July 11, 1996 School committee meeting a policy change for grading of SHOP students was adopted.

In summary, student grades of 61, 62, 63, 64 for shop will not be allowed as a quarterly grade or as a final year average grade. If the final end-of-year average grade numerically falls within 61-64 inclusive, the end-of-year average grade will be recorded as a 65.

The actual wording of the School committee's policy change is as follows:

What does this policy mean to you?
From: Brian S. Bentley, Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal

This policy means that SHOP teachers, and only SHOP Teachers, cannot issue a grade of 61, 62, 63 or 64 as a 1st Trimester, 2nd Trimester or 3rd Trimester Grade, nor can a student's FINAL average for the school year result in a grade of 61, 62, 63, or 64. The grade for the student MUST be either at 60 or below, or at 65 or above. If the grade entered by the teacher is a 61, 62, 63 or 64, it will be "bumped" to a 65. Therefore, all caution must be taken by SHOP teachers to calculate grades carefully so as to NOT have a student's grade for the Trimester or for the Final End-of-Year grade be a 61-62-63 or 64.