SFUSD kills controversial grading proposal after backlash

San Francisco school officials killed plans Wednesday to test out alternative ways to grade some high school students after politicians and parents panned the proposal in the wake of misinformation about it.
An estimated 70 teachers in 14 high schools — about 10% of the educators in grades nine to 12 — were expected to participate in a voluntary program to align grades more closely to student learning rather than attendance, participation or other factors. Some of those factors included whether a student brings in cans for a food drive or whether their parents sign a permission slip, according to the background information provided by the district on the 'Grading for Equity' initiative.
That could also mean giving students multiple chances to take tests or redo essays and reconfiguring the grading scale to address inherent problems with a 100-point grading scale — which disproportionately assigns an F for 0 to 59 points, but only 10 points each for the other grades.
The issue was discussed at the Tuesday school board meeting after media accounts presented the plan as a done deal. The board, however, had yet to consider a $172,000 contract with a consultant, who developed the Grading for Equity initiative, to train teachers on how to implement a new grading system.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan took to social media Wednesday to criticize the proposal while parents slammed the plan on Facebook, reflecting how fraught debates about academic achievement and equity have become.
In the wake of the pushback, the school district said it would not forward with it at this time.
'It's clear there are a lot of questions, concerns, and misinformation with this proposal,' said Superintendent Maria Su 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.'
'We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that,' he wrote. 'I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future.'
Mahan also weighed in on the proposal on social media, saying '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. Lowering standards does not help children. It hurts them.'
Rep. Ro Khanna posted on social media that his immigrant dad '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.' Khanna recently posted about Palo Alto Unified removing honors biology as an option for freshman year, a controversial move that also sparked parent backlash.
Palo Alto has also been engaged in a debate about creating a fairer and more evidence-based grading system.
Rumors and misinformation about the San Francisco plan circulated among parents and in media articles, which falsely stated that the Grading for Equity plan would remove homework and weekly tests from a student's grade and that a final exam, which could be taken multiple times, would be the only determining factor in the grade.
Parents responded that such changes would dumb down San Francisco schools.
'I have two high schoolers in the SFUSD system,' said one parent who asked not to be identified. 'What possible message can they take from this plan other than to conclude that working hard and applying oneself is for suckers? Not a great way to prepare them for the challenges of adulthood.'

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