A Proposal for change
The Challenge
The traditional grading system used in many schools across the country is inherently inequitable & harmful to marginalized student populations.
Why Focus On This Challenge?
- To disrupt systems of oppression and inequality in schools.
- To create more awareness and work towards a better understanding of why grading reform is needed.
- To establish an effective launching pad for this work.
- Traditional grading is subjective.
- Traditional grading practices are not consistent from teacher to teacher.
- Grades provide unclear and often misleading information to parents, students, and postsecondary institutions.
- Traditional grading practices are often corrupted by racial, class, and gender bias.
- In the vast majority of schools around the country, educators are using grading practices that are outdated, inaccurate, and/or that undermine student success.
- Traditional grading policies help fuel achievement gaps, reinforcing the differences in family resources and support based on a student’s race and socioeconomic background.
The Proposal
To establish a year long professional development plan on installing a new alternative grading system. I have designed a year long professional development plan that approaches the installation of a new alternative grading system in phases:
- Phase 1: Understand
- Phase 2: Equip
- Phase 3: Prepare
- Phase 4: Execute
SEPTEMBER:
Introduce Proposal for Grading Reform
OCTOBER:
An Equity Issue: Understanding the Impact Traditional Grading Has on Marginalized Students
NOVEMBER:
Exploring Successful Models: Panel Discussion With School Leaders & Educators Who Have Removed Traditional Grades
A Gradeless Approach & College Readiness: A Panel Discussion With College Admissions Experts
DECEMBER:
Setting Our Path Forward: Exploring & Identifying An Alternative Grading System
Backward Mapping & Project Tuning With a New Approach to Assessment
JANUARY:
Introduce Proposal for Grading Reform to Students & Parents
Community Meeting: Explore The History of Traditional Grading & What Research Has Uncovered About Why It’s Problematic
Community Meeting (Staff, Students, & Families): Understanding the Impact Traditional Grading Has on Marginalized Students
Communicating Your Common Purpose for Grades Moving Forward
MARCH:
Exploring Successful Models: Panel Discussion With School Leaders & Educators Who Have Removed Traditional Grades
APRIL:
Community Meeting (Staff, Students, & Families): A Gradeless Approach & College Readiness: A Panel Discussion With College Admissions Experts
MAY:
Setting Your Path Forward: Sharing & Explaining Your New Alternative Grading System
JUNE:
Final Staff PD - Finalizing Your Transition
*PD Framework Created By: Joseph Davidson, M.Ed.
Introduce Proposal for Grading Reform
- Administer Teacher Survey
- Explore Survey Results
OCTOBER:
An Equity Issue: Understanding the Impact Traditional Grading Has on Marginalized Students
- Assign Empathy Interview Work
NOVEMBER:
Exploring Successful Models: Panel Discussion With School Leaders & Educators Who Have Removed Traditional Grades
A Gradeless Approach & College Readiness: A Panel Discussion With College Admissions Experts
DECEMBER:
Setting Our Path Forward: Exploring & Identifying An Alternative Grading System
Backward Mapping & Project Tuning With a New Approach to Assessment
JANUARY:
Introduce Proposal for Grading Reform to Students & Parents
- Survey Students & Parents
Community Meeting: Explore The History of Traditional Grading & What Research Has Uncovered About Why It’s Problematic
- Review Survey Results
Community Meeting (Staff, Students, & Families): Understanding the Impact Traditional Grading Has on Marginalized Students
Communicating Your Common Purpose for Grades Moving Forward
MARCH:
Exploring Successful Models: Panel Discussion With School Leaders & Educators Who Have Removed Traditional Grades
- Review Video of Recorded Panel Discussion in Class (With Post Video Circle)
- Video Also Shared With Parents
APRIL:
Community Meeting (Staff, Students, & Families): A Gradeless Approach & College Readiness: A Panel Discussion With College Admissions Experts
MAY:
Setting Your Path Forward: Sharing & Explaining Your New Alternative Grading System
- In Class Discussion
- Evening Parent Session
JUNE:
Final Staff PD - Finalizing Your Transition
*PD Framework Created By: Joseph Davidson, M.Ed.
“Replacing a conventional structure in a complex, tradition-steeped organization such as a school requires stakeholders to overcome both institutional inertia and human nature’s inherent resistance to change” (Barton & Thomas, 2017).
- The goal of the proposed PD plan is to address this natural resistance and establish a shared vision for an innovative, equitable system of academic assessment.
12 Alternatives to Letter Grades
- Gamification
- Live Feedback
- Grade - Iterate - Replace
- Always-on Proving Grounds (Continuous Climate of Assessment)
- Standards-Based Reporting
- So? So What? So What Now?
- Curating the Highlights
- Pass/Fail
- Peer to Peer, Student to Student, or Mentor Celebration
- Non-Points-Based Rubrics
- Publishing