Grading Appeal Procedure
Secondary credit courses | In person and online | 2026–2027
Students may ask USCA to review a mark or a grading decision. This procedure explains how to raise a concern, what evidence to provide and how the school will respond. It covers individual assessments, report card marks, attendance and participation marks, and grading consequences related to late work or academic integrity.
1. Speak with the teacher
Ask the teacher to explain the mark and how they applied the criteria. Raise the concern within five school business days after receiving the mark or decision. The teacher normally responds within three school business days. If the concern involves the teacher’s conduct, a conflict or an urgent deadline, contact the principal directly.
2. Submit the appeal if the concern remains
Complete the Grading Appeal Process Form on page 3. Submit it within five school business days after the teacher’s response, or after the response ends without a reply. Give it to the school office or email info@uscaacademy.com with the subject “Confidential grading appeal — for the principal”. The office routes it privately; share sensitive evidence via a restricted-access link or another approved secure method.
Explain the assessment or decision, the specific concern and the outcome requested. Examples include a calculation error, inconsistent criteria, overlooked evidence, accommodation not provided, or a consequence that does not reflect the student’s circumstances. Wanting a higher mark alone is not supporting evidence.
3. Include the available evidence
Provide the task instructions, your original work, rubric or marking guide, teacher feedback, relevant messages and the date you received the mark. Identify anything you cannot access; the school will obtain its own records. Do not alter submitted work. Label any later corrections or additional evidence clearly.
4 Receive the review decision
The principal acknowledges receipt within two school business days and normally issues a written decision within ten school business days after receipt. If more time is needed, the principal explains the reason, outstanding information and revised decision date before the ten-day period ends. The decision states the evidence considered, reasons and any action required.
Access and time limits
These are USCA service standards, effective after principal approval, not Ministry-prescribed appeal deadlines. A school business day is a Monday to Friday when the school office is open, excluding statutory holidays and published closures. The principal may extend submission periods for illness, disability, language or access barriers, delayed records or other reasonable circumstances. The form is preferred, but we will accept a clear written request or assisted submission.
Identify graduation, transfer or application deadlines immediately. An appeal does not automatically suspend reporting deadlines or guarantee a higher mark. Students may seek language assistance, an accessible format or help from a support person without disadvantage.
Review and Decision Requirements
Principal and staff responsibilities | Read with the student procedure on page 1
5 Conduct an evidence-based review
Obtain the teacher’s explanation and original records. Hear the student and allow a response to significant adverse evidence. Check curriculum expectations, published criteria, feedback, calculations, applicable Ministry rules and USCA policy. Consider accommodations, language needs, supports, individual circumstances and reliable evidence. Protect other students’ identities and secure assessment content.
Obtain a review from an uninvolved, qualified subject teacher when needed. Do not negotiate marks or change weights solely to reach a requested result. Apply Ministry criteria to attendance and participation. Academic-integrity findings require reliable evidence and a student response, not an automated flag alone.
6 Record the outcome and correct records
Confirm the decision, correct an error, arrange reassessment or provide an appropriate further opportunity to demonstrate learning. Explain any mark change. Further assessment must preserve curriculum standards, security and accommodations; a higher mark is not guaranteed.
Complete page 4 and notify the student and parent/guardian where authorized. Update the gradebook, LMS, report card and OST as applicable. Retain a correction trail and securely notify the OSR holder or other authorized recipients of affected issued records. An appeal does not permit deletion of required transcript entries.
7 Address conflicts and requests to reconsider
If the principal made the disputed decision or has a material conflict, the owner arranges an impartial qualified reviewer. If the owner and principal are the same person, appoint an independent, qualified reviewer. Record the reviewer’s role and reasons. The principal remains accountable for records and implementation.
A student may request reconsideration within five school business days after the written decision for significant new evidence or procedural error. The principal, or impartial reviewer where required, acknowledges within two school business days and normally responds within ten; explain any extension. This closes the internal process without restricting rights or external avenues available by law.
8 Protect records and implement consistently
Keep forms and evidence in a restricted appeal file under the approved retention schedule, not automatically in the OSR. Maintain required academic records in the correct system. Share adult-student information with parents only with consent or lawful authority. No retaliation or appeal fee applies.
☐ Principal approves the procedure, dates it and confirms the submission contact before publication.
☐ Publish the same procedure and blank form on the website and LMS; link them in the calendar and assessment, late-work and academic-integrity policies. Replace inaccurate Appendix B references with this form’s title or attach the actual form as Appendix B.
☐ Brief staff, identify an impartial reviewer arrangement and retain dated implementation evidence.
Principal approval ____________________ Effective date __________ Review date __________
Policy basis: Ontario Ministry of Education, Growing Success (2010), pp. 6 and 38–44, and current Ministry amendments at ontario.ca (Growing Success). USCA establishes local appeal steps and timelines; these sources do not prescribe them. Reviewed October 18, 2026.
Grading Appeal Process Form
Student section | Confidential when completed | Attach extra pages if needed
Submit to the school office or info@uscaacademy.com, marked for the principal. Use a secure link for sensitive records. This form may also serve as Appendix B when attached to a school policy.
Student name __________________________ Student ID __________________________
Course code and title __________________________ Teacher ______________________
Email or telephone __________________________ Submission date ________________
Parent or support person if applicable ________________________________________
Adult student consent to share with named support person: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Not applicable
A. Identify the decision
☐ Assignment or test ☐ Final evaluation ☐ Report card mark ☐ Attendance and participation
☐ Late or missed work consequence ☐ Academic integrity grading decision ☐ Other
Task or decision __________________________ Mark or consequence ______________
Date received __________ Teacher contacted __________ Teacher response date __________
☐ No response received ☐ Direct principal review requested — explain below
B Explain what you believe is incorrect and why
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
C. State the teacher’s response and the outcome you are requesting
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
D Attach available evidence
☐ Instructions ☐ Original work ☐ Rubric or criteria ☐ Feedback ☐ Relevant messages
☐ Other evidence _____________________ Missing school records __________________
Urgent deadline and reason __________________________________________________
Assistance, accommodation or extension requested __________________________________
I confirm that the information is accurate to the best of my knowledge and that I will identify any later changes to my work. I understand that a review does not guarantee a higher mark.
Student signature or typed confirmation _________________________ Date __________
Grading Appeal Decision Record
School use | Confidential | Complete and retain with supporting evidence
Appeal reference ____________________ Student ID __________ Course ____________
Received __________ Acknowledged __________ Decision due __________
Reviewer and role ________________________ Conflict check _____________________
If extended — reason and revised date __________________________________________
A Review completed
☐ Student heard and allowed to respond to significant adverse evidence.
☐ Teacher explanation, original work, criteria, feedback and calculations reviewed.
☐ Applicable Ministry requirements, USCA policy, accommodations and circumstances checked.
☐ Independent subject review obtained where needed; reviewer identified in the file.
Evidence reviewed and findings, including any procedural concerns
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
B Decision and reasons
☐ Confirmed ☐ Error corrected ☐ Reassessment arranged ☐ Further evidence opportunity
Original mark or consequence ______________ Revised mark or consequence ______________
Explain the evidence-based reasons and any next steps or reassessment conditions
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
C Communication and implementation
Decision sent to student __________ Parent or authorized recipient if applicable __________
Action owner __________________________ Completion deadline __________________
☐ Gradebook/LMS ☐ Report card ☐ OST if applicable ☐ Record holder notified ☐ No change
Corrections verified by ________________________ Date __________
Reconsideration deadline __________ Request received __________ Outcome/date __________
Reviewer signature __________________ Principal implementation sign off ______________
Retain the written decision, supporting evidence and proof of communication securely. Publish only blank forms. Record reconsideration reasons and outcome on an attached page if needed.