San Francisco's absurd new plan for school kids even has liberal parents furious

Daily Mail​

28-05-2025

Parents across the political spectrum are up in arms after San Francisco's school district announced a new plan that will see pass marks lowered.
Superintendent of Schools Maria Su unveiled the new 'Grading for Equity' plan last night that will scrap homework and weekly testing, and allow students to pass with scores as low as 41.
It comes after left-wing activists argued that homework and testing disproportionately affects students from poorer backgrounds and creates an uneven playing field.
But even liberals pushed back against the extreme new policy. Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman for Silicon Valley known for his progressive values, slammed the move on X: 'My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence.
'Giving A's for 80 percent & no homework is not equity - it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids.'
According to The Voice of San Francisco, the plan, which is set to go into effect later this fall.
Su has been able to push the new plan through without being the subject to a public vote, with the plan set to affect over 10,000 students in 14 high schools.
The outlet reported that the new plan will essentially eliminate homework and weekly testing from making up a student's final semester grade.
A student's grade will be based solely on their final examination, which they can also take multiple times.
Students can also be late in handing in assignments or even fail to appear in class without it having an effect on their overall mark.
Current thresholds in place mean a students needs a 90 for an A and at least 61 for a D.
The changes mean a score as low as 80 now counts as an A, while a mark of 21 counts as a D.
Fellow democrat Garry Tan, a venture capitalist, also blasted the move, he said: 'San Francisco schools is trying its absolute hardest to make sure all middle income families who could move out of the city do so right away
''Grading for Equity' is going to be a real disaster and I guess this is a boon for SF private schools and Burlingame housing prices.
'For education bureaucrats who ruin our public schools with the most unfair and anti-merit polices: BUSINESS IS BOOMING.
'Someone needs to investigate the Schools of Education that spawn these policies because it is a real danger to public schools everywhere.'
The move has been widely criticized on social media even from Democrats
Entrepreneur Chamath Palihapitiya added: 'This is, on its face, absolutely retarded. It's also a disgrace that this comes from the preeminent tech capital of the world.
'This will, however, be very good for housing prices in areas surrounding SF.'
According to the outlet, the district had consulted Joe Feldman who had helped implement a similar system in Placer County in 2019.
In an article on the School Superintendents Association in 2019, Feldman said: 'The percentage of students receiving D's and F's decreased — and decreased more dramatically for students of color and for students with special needs.
'Grade inflation, as measured by the rate of students receiving A's, decreased, and they dropped more dramatically among more privileged student populations.
'Students' grades didn't just improve; they were more accurate. Improved grading practices significantly decreased the difference between students' grades and their scores on standardized assessments of that content, and the effect was stronger and more likely for students who qualified for free or reduced-price lunch.
'Students and teachers reported less stressful classrooms and stronger teacher-student relationships.'
The Voice said that the new system will be modeled on a system used in the San Leandro Unified School District.
At that school district, pupils can earn an A with a score of 80 percent and achieve a pass with a D at 21 percent.