MBUSD approves new grading policy for remote learning

Andonia Goergen

Executive News Editor

Section: News

5/27/20

 

MBUSD approves new grading policy for remote learning

 

With campus officially closed for the remaining 2019-2020 school year, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees implemented a new grading policy to give students the opportunity to choose how their grade appears on their transcript.

 

With the new policy, students that received any passing letter grade for the second semester have the option of replacing that letter grade with a “Pass,” which will appear on their transcript as a “P.” Students can choose which classes to implement this new grading policy in, meaning they can have a combination of “P” grades and regular “A” through “F” grades on their report cards.

 

“I think letting students choose between a pass-fail option was one of the best possible ways administration could have chosen to go about the grading process due to the COVID-19 crisis,” junior Cassidy George said. “Those who oppose the new system are correct with the realization that it may cause some students to slack off or do well when they really don’t deserve it, but I think the people who dislike the policy haven’t considered the disadvantages that some underprivileged members of our community are facing.”

 

After the MBUSD Board meeting on April 15, Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews sent out a survey to parents, teachers and students of the district asking their opinion on a new grading policy. The survey showed that a majority of Costa parents and students supported a policy where grades could not drop below their third quarter grade. The board addressed the finalized plan at their May 6 meeting.

 

“I think it is important that students have an alternative to traditional grading so that it is reflective of their true work ethic and not their current, unfortunate circumstances,” George said.

 

The MBUSD Board formulated the new policy to ensure that students cannot drop from a passing grade that they had before school closure on March 13 to a failing grade after starting remote learning. However, if students did receive an “F” after March 13 and showed minimal effort to complete their teachers’ tasks, they can fail the semester.

 

“I think it’s beneficial to students who are similar to me; those who have been stressed out in quarantine and whose work load can be detrimental to their grades,” junior Caitlin De Baets said. “I myself have been falling behind a bit with all of the things going on in my own life, so the option to simply get credit without worrying about the specific letter grade has really eased some stress for me.”

 

If students opt for a “P” instead of a letter grade, they will receive credit for the class that is needed to graduate and qualify for the requirements of University of California and California State University schools. Choosing a “P” grade does not affect a student’s GPA, and students are advised to take the grade that is more advantageous to them.

 

“The ‘pass’ option allows students to lower their anxieties about grades during a time when we should lower anxieties whenever and wherever possible,” Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. “The ‘no fail’ provision for students passing on March 13 hopefully has the same effect of lowering student’s anxieties.”

 

Students have until Aug. 1 to decide if they would like to receive letter grades on their transcript or implement the new pass or fail system. The school is currently working on a system to alert teachers of the decisions their students make.

 

“The fact that pass-fail is optional is, in my opinion, a great decision because it will allow dedicated students to receive the recognition they deserve for their hard work throughout the school year,” George said. “The new policy puts students in charge of their academic goals and the level of intensity they will employ for the remainder of the school year, and I believe that is important during this time of major crisis.”