Grading on the Health Curve

Ethical Educator

Scenario:

In response to a local flare-up of COVID-19 infections, the school district switches to remote learning for the second half of the semester.

Internet service across the district is spotty with many students unable to access synchronous video lessons or even Google Classroom tools from their homes.

The high school principal proposes that semester grades automatically convert to pass/fail to account for inequitable learning access. Some students and parents protest, saying this unfairly obscures the hard work they've put into their classes and could hurt their GPAs in college applications.

What should the superintendent recommend?