San Francisco's educational landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of a new grading initiative known as "Grading for Equity."
This program, which is being discreetly implemented, will reportedly eliminate the inclusion of homework and weekly tests in final grades, permitting students to pass with scores as low as 21 out of 100. The initiative, spearheaded by Superintendent of Schools Maria Su, is set to commence this fall across 14 public high schools, impacting over 10,000 students.
As reported by The Washington Free Beacon, the Grading for Equity program will base semester grades solely on a final exam, which students can retake multiple times, regardless of their participation in assignments or class attendance.
This development coincides with President Donald Trump's efforts to curtail Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within educational institutions. The President has not only revoked billions in federal funding from prestigious universities but has also urged state education departments to dismantle numerous DEI programs or face financial repercussions. These actions have sparked legal challenges currently navigating the judicial system.
Su's decision to implement this sweeping change was made without seeking approval from the San Francisco Board of Education. Her staff has informed board members that they lack the authority to oppose the plan, which was discreetly introduced on the final slide of a PowerPoint presentation within a 25-page board meeting agenda.
The announcement came during the last week of the spring semester, a critical time for parents contemplating whether to continue their children's education in San Francisco's public schools. The district is grappling with over $110 million in budget cuts, declining student enrollment, and growing concerns about academic standards.
The district previously faced criticism when former superintendent Matt Wayne allocated $30,000 to a Stanford University professor to devise an "equity-centered" formula for school closures. This formula was perceived as favoring underperforming black and Hispanic schools while targeting low-income, high-achieving Asian students, leading to Wayne's resignation in October.
Under Su's Grading for Equity system, students can achieve an A with a score of 80, a C with 41, and a D with just 21 out of 100. In contrast, the current grading system requires a 90 for an A and at least 61 for a D. This shift raises questions about the future of academic rigor and the potential impact on student performance and motivation.
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