Grading in the Midst of a Pandemic

Type: Article
Topics: Curriculum & Assessment, School Administrator Magazine

May 01, 2021

The benefits of ‘no zero’ and other modified practices ought to long outlast the learning challenges of the moment
Grading Graphic

Waterbury, Conn., superintendent Verna Ruffin noticed early on during the pandemic that students had taken on some demanding and necessary roles outside of their academic responsibilities. They were serving as caregivers and money earners for their families.

During the economic and social upheaval brought on by the coronavirus, the 18,000-student Waterbury schools made temporary changes in their grading policies last spring because of the inequities associated with the brisk transition to online learning. Water-bury, along with other districts nationwide, quickly adopted “do no harm” grading practices such as freezing existing grades and providing students with the option of pass/fail grades.

When students resumed school last fall in fully remote, hybrid or in-person settings, many schools returned to their previous grading practices. Once national and regional news media shared stories of widespread failures among students in the fall and winter, some schools decided again to reevaluate their grading practices.

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Author

Matt Townsley

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

University of Northern Iowa

Additional Resources

Author Matt Townsley recommends these informational resources for school district leaders who want to learn more about grading in a pandemic and beyond, in addition to resources collected on his website.

Books

  • How to Grade for Learning: Linking Grades to Standards (4th edition) by Ken O’Connor, Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
  • Get Set, Go!: Creating Successful Grading and Reporting Systems by Thomas R. Guskey, Solution Tree, Bloomington, Ind.
  • Making Grades Matter: Standards-Based Grading in a Secondary PLC at Work by Matt Townsley and Nathan L. Wear, Solution Tree, Bloomington, Ind.
  • The Standards-Based Classroom: Make Learning the Goal by Emily Rinkema and Stan Williams, Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Digital Resources

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