By Zoe Howard
Copy Editor
Costa’s counselors have recommended that a Pass/No Pass grading policy be implemented for the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021 school year. On May 5, Manhattan Beach Unified School (MBUSD) Direct Board of Trustees voted to approve this proposed grading policy. The decision to allow for Pass/No Pass grading benefits all students during a time where students’ academics and mental health are jeopardized due to the pandemic.
This policy allows students who received an A, B, C, or D in the class to opt to receive a “Pass” on their transcript instead, which will not affect the student’s GPA. As for those in danger of failing, the student will receive a notice from the school. If a student meets the teacher’s minimal requirement for passing, they will not receive an F. This grading policy is similar to the policy that was enacted for the Spring 2021 semester when Costa first switched to distance learning. This current policy, as well as last year’s, will satisfy Costa’s graduation requirement.
According to a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) survey given by Costa counselors, students reported feeling ‘almost always lonely,’ ‘frequently lonely,’ ‘almost never hopeful’ and ‘once in a while hopeful’. The social-emotional challenges students face during this school year, caused by a majority of the time learning at home, lead to poor academic performance. The difficulties during this time shouldn’t put a student at risk of failing a class, leading them to have to retake it.
During the distance learning years of 2020 and 2021, there has been a dramatic increase in students earning D and F grades, causing an increase in the number of seniors at risk of not graduating. The increase of students failing classes demonstrates the struggle of distance learning through its distracting nature. Distance learning is additionally unfair for students with technology problems and difficult home lives.
Many have had concerns over how Pass/No Pass grading will appear to UC school admissions, but the application of this policy does not affect college admissions for UC schools. UC schools announced that they will be accepting Pass/Fail grades for students Grades 9-12 for Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021. Therefore, choosing a Pass grade will not hurt any students’ chances at admission if they choose to opt for it.
The vote to approve the Pass/No Pass Grading Policy gives students the alleviating options they need from dealing with the uncertainty of these times. Even if a student is not receiving a D or F grade in a class, they can still benefit from choosing a Pass grade in order to improve their GPA. All in all, the MBUSD Board of Trustees’ decision will help all Costa students during these times.
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