Equitable Grading for Middle & High School Students
Introduction
On March 20th, 2024, the Long Beach USD Board of Education approved Board Policy 5121 Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement. This policy is grounded in the 菠菜网lol正规平台 board approved Excellence and Equity Policy 0415 which was approved in 2021. The intent is to establish a uniform grading system that provides cohesion and alignment across the district. The purpose of this policy is to create a learning environment where all students have the opportunity to thrive, grow, and succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Over the past two years, representatives came together from various departments to lead this vision - Research, Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development, and the Secondary Schools Office. They collaborated on the timeline, leading 36 focus groups of teachers, students, and parents, to identify needs and vision for the grading policy. Data from these focus groups were collected that eventually informed the Equitable Grading policy that was approved by the 菠菜网lol正规平台 Board of Education.
Grading Policy Video
Why a Grading Policy?
Equitable grading practices ensure that students have opportunities across the district to demonstrate their knowledge and skills and are evaluated in a fair and consistent manner. This motivates students to engage in learning when they know that their efforts are valued and recognized. The guidelines ensure consistency across all schools grading based on student knowledge and the mastery of skills. These include:
- Clear communication of grading practices establishes a supportive learning environment.
- Grading is based on knowledge and skills not on behavior or timeliness.
- Feedback to support growth in learning
- Multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency
- Changing the F to 50% makes it equitable to all the other A-D grade bands. This also provides students with motivation to retake/revise their assignments as it is less stressful when they see that it is less of an uphill task to improve their grades.
- Empowering students to advocate for themselves as well as developing a growth mindset
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Equitable Grading in 菠菜网lol正规平台 for Middle & High School Students
