Latest news with #forEquity
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
San Francisco Public Schools Reverse on Grading Equity Plan After Backlash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. San Francisco's public school system has canceled plans to launch a pilot grading reform program after a wave of criticism from local officials and families who argued the changes would dilute academic standards. The proposed "Grading for Equity" initiative aimed to reframe how high school students are evaluated, moving away from traditional metrics like homework completion, class participation, and attendance in favor of assessments focused solely on learning mastery. Under the pilot, teachers would have had the option to allow multiple attempts on tests and essays, and possibly shift away from the conventional 100-point scale. Why It Matters The pilot, which was scheduled to roll out in the 2025–26 school year, would have allowed about 70 teachers across 14 high schools to experiment with alternative grading practices. The proposed system aimed to prioritize learning over behavioral or logistical factors such as punctuality or whether a student brought in a signed permission slip. The plan was described as voluntary and teacher-led, with no mandates on grading policies. However, critics said the district failed to explain the proposal clearly, fueling misinformation and outrage across social media and community forums. What To Know Superintendent Maria Su announced Wednesday that the plan would not go forward. "It's clear there are a lot of questions, concerns, and misinformation with this proposal," she said in a statement. "We want to make sure any changes benefit our students. I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community." The program's abrupt cancellation came less than 24 hours after San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan publicly criticized it. "We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that," Lurie wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future. We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed," Lurie wrote on social media. "The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that." Mahan, a former public-school teacher, echoed those concerns and said the proposal sent the wrong message. "Lowering standards does not help children. It hurts them," he posted. School Buses in San Francisco, California. School Buses in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, also condemned the plan, tying his criticism to his family's immigrant values and the importance of academic rigor. "Giving A's for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote on X. The plan was first revealed in the fine print of a 25-page agenda and first reported by The Voice of San Francisco, a local nonprofit. The district was preparing to vote on a $172,000 contract to train teachers under the guidance of Joe Feldman, who developed the Grading for Equity model used in other school districts, including nearby San Leandro. Feldman defended the proposal, arguing that current grading systems are inconsistent and often unfair. "Most teachers receive no training in grading," Feldman told the Chronicle. "Everyone recognizes that current grading is neither accurate nor fair and it's also widely variable." He said the intention was to give teachers tools to make grading more reflective of student understanding and to reduce the impact of what he called the "atomic zero"—a mathematical flaw in the 100-point scale where a single missed assignment can heavily skew a student's overall grade. Supporters of the plan, including some principals, said the option to revise grading practices could help students who learn at different paces and reduce disparities linked to socioeconomic background. But others questioned whether the district had the capacity to implement such a change amid broader challenges, including recent disputes over merit-based admissions and curriculum changes. What People Are Saying Matt Mahan, San Jose Mayor, posted on X: "I try to stay in my San Jose lane, but as a former East Side public school teacher I have to say — this is a terrible disservice to our students." Meredith Dodson, executive director and cofounder of the SF Parent Coalition, told the San Francisco Chronicle: "Parts of the idea seem interesting, other parts seem unclear if they'd have their intended results. At the very least, there should be an evidence-based discussion about how this impacts students and families." Joe Feldman, the initiative's creator, wrote on X: "Traditional grading lets students avoid learning yet still earn good grades. Only equitable grading ensures every student is held accountable to their learning." What Happens Next In response to the uproar, district officials emphasized that the pilot was never intended to overhaul grading for all students and would have preserved teacher autonomy. The program was expected to be evaluated for its impact on learning outcomes before any broader implementation. Instead, said Superintendent Su, the district will focus on "balancing our budget, stabilizing the district, and rebuilding trust."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
San Francisco school district ditches proposed 'Grading for Equity' strategy after backlash from community
The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash. The strategy, known as "Grading for Equity," was presented during a SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Maria Su, with the goal of offering "professional development opportunity in standards-based grading." Under the proposed standards, how a student scores on the final exam, which could be taken multiple times, would be what counts toward their grade for the semester, according to the Voice of San Francisco. Homework and weekly tests would not impact the grade, and neither would late assignments, tardiness to class or absence from school. College Dropouts Celebrate At Unconventional 'Graduation' Ceremony In San Francisco The letter-grade system would also be significantly altered, allowing students who score an 80 to receive an A and students who score as low as a 21 to pass with a D, which models the "Grading for Equity" system in the San Leandro Unified School District, Voice of San Francisco reported. Read On The Fox News App The new system was supposed to be tested by 70 teachers in 14 SFUSD schools until the community, including the mayor and lawmakers, spoke out against the proposal. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote on X that the younger generation is owed "an education that prepares them to succeed" and the "changes to grading at SFUSF would not accomplish that." "I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future," he wrote, in part. Tensions Flare At School Board Meeting After Trans Athlete Wins Multiple Track Events U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., called out the proposal, sarcastically describing it as a "brilliant solution." "San Francisco has come up with a brilliant solution for its failing schools. Students simply won't be failed," Kiley wrote on X. "Under the new 'Grading for Equity' plan, Fs are now Cs; Bs are now As; homework and tests are ungraded; truancy is unpunished; and finals can be re-taken again and again." U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also shared his opinion on the proposed grading system on his personal X account. "My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving A's for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote. A statement from Su on SFUSD's X account on Wednesday said that there have been no changes to grading practices within the school district and no action was taken at the meeting. She said each student within the school district is held to a high standard and SFUSD's goal is to "support student success by prioritizing learning and mastery." "It's clear that there are a lot of questions, concerns and misinformation with this proposal. We want to make sure any changes benefit our students," Su wrote, in article source: San Francisco school district ditches proposed 'Grading for Equity' strategy after backlash from community
New York Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
San Francisco scraps ‘equity grading' program — in which homework and attendance wouldn't affect grades — one day after unveiling it amid bipartisan backlash
San Francisco school officials took a sudden U-turn Wednesday on an initiative that would have effectively let students skip homework, cut class, and re-take their exams. Parents and politicians alike – including SF Mayor Daniel Lurie – trashed the experimental 'Grading for Equity' initiative as soon as the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) unveiled it on Tuesday. Things like class attendance and homework wouldn't have affected a student's final grade under the new system — instead, grades would have been left up to a final exam, which students would be allowed to redo, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 4 The proposed 'Grading for Equity' program would have made it easier for San Francisco students to get high marks. Pixel-Shot – 4 Education officials quickly halted plans to test the program after widespread backlash. vchalup – Advertisement 'Grading for Equity' would have also lowered the point threshold for letter grades. Under a similar system at the nearby San Leandro Unified School District – which SFUSD officials have praised – students need a score of just 80% to get an A, and a score of 41% earns them a C, according to The Voice of San Francisco. The purpose of the alternative grading approach was to minimize the impact of challenges that disproportionately affect low-income students, such as traveling to school and finding time and space to do homework. But critics on both sides of the political spectrum said 'Grading for Equity' was not the answer. 'My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence,' Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat, posted on X. 'Giving A's for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids,' he continued. 4 Under a similar program in San Leandro, students need scores of just 80% to earn an A and 49% to earn a C. Matthew Benoit – 4 Critics included San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie. Koldo_Studio – Advertisement 'We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that,' Mayor Lurie echoed on the platform. Seventy teachers were to test the new system in 14 district schools, but parents cried foul at a Tuesday school board meeting where board members were asked to approve $172,000 for a training program. Superintendent Maria Su then put the plan on hold, citing widespread 'misinformation.' Advertisement 'It's clear there are a lot of questions, concerns, and misinformation with this proposal,' Superintendent Maria Su said in a statement to the Chronicle. 'We want to make sure any changes benefit our students. I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community.'
