Portland Public Schools is currently in the process of discussing novel “equitable grading practices” that would restrict teachers from assigning “zeros” to students who engage in cheating or fail to submit assignments.
The initiative launched by the district aims to tackle perceived “racial disparities” and “inequities” in grading and instruction. According to a handout examined by the Washington Free Beacon, this journey commenced “during the pandemic.”
The handout asserts that “grading for equity” encompasses the elimination of “zeros” as a grading option, even in instances where a student cheats or neglects to submit a test or assignment. Additionally, the proposal advocates for the avoidance of penalties for tardy work, as well as refraining from assigning grades for homework and “non-academic factors” such as “participation, attendance, effort, attitude, [and] behavior.”