San Francisco Public Schools Reverse on Grading Equity Plan After Backlash

Newsweek

29-05-2025

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San Francisco's public school system has canceled plans to launch a pilot grading reform program after a wave of criticism from local officials and families who argued the changes would dilute academic standards.
The proposed "Grading for Equity" initiative aimed to reframe how high school students are evaluated, moving away from traditional metrics like homework completion, class participation, and attendance in favor of assessments focused solely on learning mastery.
Under the pilot, teachers would have had the option to allow multiple attempts on tests and essays, and possibly shift away from the conventional 100-point scale.
Why It Matters
The pilot, which was scheduled to roll out in the 2025–26 school year, would have allowed about 70 teachers across 14 high schools to experiment with alternative grading practices. The proposed system aimed to prioritize learning over behavioral or logistical factors such as punctuality or whether a student brought in a signed permission slip.
The plan was described as voluntary and teacher-led, with no mandates on grading policies. However, critics said the district failed to explain the proposal clearly, fueling misinformation and outrage across social media and community forums.
What To Know
Superintendent Maria Su announced Wednesday that the plan would not go forward.
"It's clear there are a lot of questions, concerns, and misinformation with this proposal," she said in a statement.
"We want to make sure any changes benefit our students. I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community."
The program's abrupt cancellation came less than 24 hours after San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan publicly criticized it.
"We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that," Lurie wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future. We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed," Lurie wrote on social media.
"The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that."
Mahan, a former public-school teacher, echoed those concerns and said the proposal sent the wrong message.
"Lowering standards does not help children. It hurts them," he posted.
School Buses in San Francisco, California.
School Buses in San Francisco, California.
Getty Images
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, also condemned the plan, tying his criticism to his family's immigrant values and the importance of academic rigor. "Giving A's for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote on X.
The plan was first revealed in the fine print of a 25-page agenda and first reported by The Voice of San Francisco, a local nonprofit. The district was preparing to vote on a $172,000 contract to train teachers under the guidance of Joe Feldman, who developed the Grading for Equity model used in other school districts, including nearby San Leandro.
Feldman defended the proposal, arguing that current grading systems are inconsistent and often unfair.
"Most teachers receive no training in grading," Feldman told the Chronicle. "Everyone recognizes that current grading is neither accurate nor fair and it's also widely variable."
He said the intention was to give teachers tools to make grading more reflective of student understanding and to reduce the impact of what he called the "atomic zero"—a mathematical flaw in the 100-point scale where a single missed assignment can heavily skew a student's overall grade.
Supporters of the plan, including some principals, said the option to revise grading practices could help students who learn at different paces and reduce disparities linked to socioeconomic background. But others questioned whether the district had the capacity to implement such a change amid broader challenges, including recent disputes over merit-based admissions and curriculum changes.
What People Are Saying
Matt Mahan, San Jose Mayor, posted on X: "I try to stay in my San Jose lane, but as a former East Side public school teacher I have to say — this is a terrible disservice to our students."
Meredith Dodson, executive director and cofounder of the SF Parent Coalition, told the San Francisco Chronicle: "Parts of the idea seem interesting, other parts seem unclear if they'd have their intended results. At the very least, there should be an evidence-based discussion about how this impacts students and families."
Joe Feldman, the initiative's creator, wrote on X: "Traditional grading lets students avoid learning yet still earn good grades. Only equitable grading ensures every student is held accountable to their learning."
What Happens Next
In response to the uproar, district officials emphasized that the pilot was never intended to overhaul grading for all students and would have preserved teacher autonomy. The program was expected to be evaluated for its impact on learning outcomes before any broader implementation.
Instead, said Superintendent Su, the district will focus on "balancing our budget, stabilizing the district, and rebuilding trust."