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SDUHSD Grade Policy Advocacy (Centralized Data Forum~share your data with us)


2,339 signatures is equivalent to the entire 2020 11th Grade Class in SDUHSD (all high schools combined).

The 5 petitions initiated prior to May 14, 2020, asked the Leadership in the SDUHSD to provide Students a CHOICE to receive a grade not just a one size C/NC.

Students want Options.

Community prepared detailed presentation on why CHOICE should be the option. Read Here

Community Works to Educate School Board

Why did community NEED to Educate School Board?

March 30, 2020 email from Dr. Haley states, “We are working with other San Diego County school districts, and districts across the state to ensure we provide fair and accurate grades in the 4th quarter and the 2nd semester. We are aware some districts have adopted pass/fail grade systems, however, we do not know if that will have negative consequences…we do not want any students’ academic career negatively impacted by this sudden shift.”

Friday, April 3, 2020: (Four days later and the Friday before spring break) A simple email which stated, “Important information regarding grading and resources is posted on our website: www.sduhsd.net.” There was no letter or explanation like all the other emails. This email refers to the website indicating the C/NC policy.

April 6-April 12, 2020: Spring break and district offices closed.

Read Timeline of SDUHSD Communication of Distance Learning Plan

April 6, 2020+ Surveys initiated mostly by SDUHSD students

1. Equitable Grading (20)

2. SDUHSD Credit/No Credit - OPTIONAL (43)

3. Give students the choice of grades (165)

4. Allow students a choice between grades and credit/no credit (1242)

5. Double A Grading Policy at San Dieguito Union High School District (869)

6. Student initiated online survey (we will post the results if shared)

April 16, 2020 College Board holds information session.

Transcript begins at 16:58 – 18:06

“Something you might want to look at: most AP teachers are going to still provide letter grades this year, grades of A through F. Eighty-six percent of AP teachers are reporting that students will still receive a letter grade of A through F. Many of those teachers in through schools also give a GPA bonus point if the student completes the exam.

That practice of giving AP students extra GPA bonus points is supported by research from Harvard and University of Virginia.

So, you might want to check; if your school is not giving your child GPA bonus points for finishing the course and completing the exam, you might want to ask your school to adopt that practice.

Seventy percent of AP schools already use that practice because it's supported by research and it rewards students who are taking a more challenging course, a college-level course in high school, students who are taking a more challenging course, a college-level course in high school…if you live in California you don’t have to worry about this practice. The UC system automatically gives those bonus points to every AP student.”

* Additional Reference Site: https://parents.collegeboard.org/webinars

April 18, 2020 Concerns arise about Superintendent Raise but No Grades for Students

April 21, 2020 San Dieguito schools roll out site-specific distance learning plans (Karen Billings Reporting, Del Mar Times)

April 21, 2020 Students and Parents Voice their concerns of the one-size-fits all policy

Since April 21st - Community Members have actively written their school board members, posted continually on Nextdoor in their respective communities and signed petitions that this one-size fits all approach is not for the SDUHSD Community.

April 27, 2020 Students and Parents publicly protest one-size fits all policy (Karen Billings Reporting, Del Mar Times Reporting)

May 2, 2020 SDUHSD Trustee Muir shares her Opinion in writing with multiple online venues (also found on page A18 e-newspaper at www.delmartimes.net)

May 7, 2020 Community Group shares major data points of other Distance Learning Grading Policies around the State and the irreparable harm that the C/NC only policy instituted in SDUHSD could have on Students.

May 14, 2020 - Special Board Meeting

Action Item: CONSIDERATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN DURING SCHOOL CLOSURE SPRING 2020 – WAIVER OF BOARD POLICY 5121, GRADES/EVALUATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, FOR SPRING SEMESTER 2020

- Board Policy (BP) 5121

- Administrative Regulation (AR) 5121

May 14, 2020: Speakers are notified five minutes before the Board meeting, only 9 speakers make public comment. Board votes unanimously 5-0 in favor of a grade choice.

Post May 14, 2020 School Board Meeting New Surveys

7. KEEP SDUHSD Hold Harmless Letter Grade or Credit/No Credit CHOICE

8. Change the SDUHSD System Back to Mandatory Pass/Fail

Community Public Service Announcement Video

May 21,2020 - School Board Meeting

10. ACTION ITEMS a. CONSIDERATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN DURING SCHOOL CLOSURE SPRING 2020 – WAIVER OF BOARD POLICY 5121, GRADES/EVALUATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, FOR SPRING SEMESTER 2020

School Board Voted 4-1 to accept a Choice for Grades Option for Spring 2020.

NOTE: High Schools in SDUHSD do not have PTAs or a central public parent forum, there is so much data moving around the SDUHSD School Community in a bifurcated fashion, we are trying to capture and put it in one place, for public review. We will continue to work to update any new data sources as they come forward to us on this post.

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