Instructional Playbook

Best Practices for Deadlines & Late Work

OVERVIEW When considering deadlines and late work, focus on fostering student accountability while supporting the learning process. Recognize that each student comes with individual circumstances and challenges that may be impacting their performance. Therefore, tailor deadlines to meet their needs. RATIONALE Deadlines provide a targeted timeline for students to show mastery of content skills and standards aligned to unit scope and sequence while supporting student learning, time management, and organizational skills.

Accomodations for Special Populations (ML, SPED, 504) Allow MLs and students with special needs extended deadlines based on individual learning plans and IEPs. Implement supports based on ML best practices and accommodations stated in a SPED student’s Individual Learning Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Adapt consequences to provide more instructional support focusing on learning progress. Reference a student’s IEP or 504 plan when applicable.

Expected Best Practice

Outdated Practice

Set reasonable deadlines for tasks and communicate with parents/guardians and students.

Deadlines do not provide ample time to learn the material or to complete a task and/or not communicated to students and parents. Supports are not in place when students need additional time or instruction. Late work is not accepted at all, or student grades are “docked” a certain percentage or points when work is turned in late. This can distort achievement, motivation and overall morale. Inconsistent procedures and policies are implemented in classes, and there are no common deadline policies across the school.

Have supports in place like time in class, after school structures, small group instruction during class to help students meet the deadlines. Students experience natural consequences for late work like loss in learning time, playing catch-up, or poor performance on assessment rather than receiving a reduction in grade. Schools have a comprehensive, aligned school-wide policy with regard to deadlines & late work that is outlined in a school handbook, and reflected in all individual course syllabi.

Comprehensive school-wide policy designed to meet the needs of ALL students.