AnonymousUpdate by an edhat reader
I just received the below mass email from SBUSD:
Review the proposed Grading Policy and see details regarding the April 23 board meeting HERE.
In essence, the proposal before the board is as follows:
Elementary Schools
Elementary schools will not issue report cards for Trimester 3 (June 2020) and instead focus on providing ongoing feedback on learning to students and families for 2019-2020.
Junior High Schools
Junior high schools will operate under a credit/no credit policy for spring semester 2020.
Senior High Schools
High schools will implement a Credit (CR)/No Credit (NC) grading system for spring semester/term with an option for letter grades if a student so chooses.
- The default standard is a credit/no credit grading environment for all students.
- Students may opt to earn a letter grade for individual courses.
A CR/NC or a letter grade (high school only) will be based on the student performance as of 3/13/2020. Any student work evaluated after March 13th can improve a student’s standing, but not harm it.
The proposal reflects input provided by a grading policy committee that included district staff, counselors and administrators from across the district.
“I could not be more proud of the process the committee undertook to identify and evaluate relevant factors and perspectives in arriving at what we, as the educational practitioners, determined to be the best proposal,” said Shawn Carey, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education. “At the end of the day, our staff and students can only succeed when we have the support of our clientele, our community. The proposal that is offered is reflective of that spirit.”
Superintendent Cary Matsuoka said the proposed policy allows for student choice, and also minimizes the stress and uncertainty created by the pandemic.
“The goal is to support our students and teachers during these unprecedented times,” said Matsuoka. “The policy proposal was the result of many conversations and multiple drafts and I feel the option of credit/no credit or grades gives our students and families the option to choose what is best for their situation.”
By an edhat reader
Does anyone know more about the emergency meeting the Santa Barbara Unified School District is holding on Thursday?
I heard it might be about modifying their grading process due to the pandemic, especially for the large number of students who do not have internet or computer access.
@1:05, this is not true. Pass grades *are* included in GPA. In addition, for many colleges pass grades are often not acceptable for required classes in college admission (ie, most Ivy league schools). These colleges know that at SBUSD a “D” grade is a “Pass”. No issue with giving any student that wants it the Pass/Fail option. But also give students the option to receive a grade.
The way the education system as gotten lately, I say award all students in Pre-K through 12th grade all “A’s.” They have all worked hard through this pandemic and need so warm & fuzzy feelings as they head into a well deserved, long summer break.
Let me go .. You raise some interesting points. As a person who struggled with literacy and a parent of a dyslexic there are fundamental issues that the district can not legally ignore. You are right to note that one on one intervention is expensive. The law around American Disability ducation Act requires school districts to give appropriate interventions so all students can meet the national standard of being reading proficient by 3rd grade. When our district choices to redirect funds intended for these high risk students they are not in compliance with the law. Our superintendent and vice superintendents make extravagant salaries. LAUSD superintendent oversees 430,000 for less than Matsuoka oversees 13,000. Why are we as a community overpaying . These resources need to go to the high risk students and literacy. If you can’t read by 3rd grade 74% will still struggle in 9th. Many will drop out . The only way out of poverty is education and literacy by 3rd grade. Why pay 40 million on football field or 26.5 million on an armory. How about spending on literacy to those who can’t read. Seriously half the typical kids are failing and nearly all of those with learning differences are not proficient. Jail costs more than college. Let’s help early when it matters and spend less on bloated salaries. Thanks for your input. Please encourage small class sizes and interventions for literacy, a human right. xoxo
This is so untrue. I have a child that had an IED “special ED” he, with the help of his counselor at DP, hard work by him, his teachers, and most importantly his parents did amazing! Your whole literacy thing being on the school is BS. Take some responsibility for your own children. Read to them, help them with homework, and use the massive network of assistance our schools provide, free of charge. The government is not responsible for your children. You are.
As far as grading. Yes, it’s a pass/fail unless you want to get a grade. So if somehow, you’re able to crush it during this, you can still get an A. Not sure how they could do this any other way…
The board is considering moving entirely to a Pass/No pass grading system. This is wrong. The SBUSD must at least give our students the *option* of receiving a grade.
Moving to pass/Fail is only good for mediocre/poor students and the districts they attend: it reduces all students to the lowest common denominator and props up the GPAs of students and districts. However, students whose current GPA is very high will actually see a drop in GPA if given a “Pass” grade. This pandemic will be over someday but these students will forever have the lower GPA and will suffer when applying to rigorous colleges. Do the right thing SBUSD and give students the option of receiving a grade.
Its a secret in that SBUSD did not release an agenda item or disclose the meeting and topics. Not everyone reads Noozhawk
PSTARS – If “no ones hiding anything,” then why does the headline say “quietly?”
Get Over it. I am happy for you that at DP high school your child’s needs were met. High school is a little late to catch it when the national standard to read is by 3rd grade. Look up FAPE and the IDEA , individual disability education act and concept of free appropriate education does put the responsibility on the schools legally. Naturally parents who have means can do more for their kids. Look at Cleveland elementary , a school where 95% receive free lunch and most are in poverty . Only 13% of the 4th graders are proficient readers if you look at CAASP scores. All of La Cuesta students (81) are not proficient. They will not be able to apply to 4 year college. Not everyone is as blessed as you nor do all parents have the means. Literacy is a human right .
@Love For starters, my son always struggled and It wasn’t until 5th grade when we were approached by his teacher about getting him an IEP. A local Goleta neighborhood public school. I mention DP because that’s when I felt he turned the corner. I am only “privileged” I guess because I only worked 10 hours a day and after I coached whatever sport they were doing, I had the energy to spend several hours each night to help him with his school work. I’m sure there are others who must work more and don’t have the time, but it’s all about priorities to me. So if you’re talking about kids and families that don’t speak English, that’s a whole different issue. Based on your Elementry school of choice, that’s my assumption. Of course, it’s going to be much harder on those kids! Especially when a large portion of newly immigrated parents either doesn’t know or refuse to learn English. They can’t help their children and instead of putting the work in to learn it so they can help their kids, they put it on us and call it a right. La Cuesta? Seriously?