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Educational Services and OUEA Leadership have been working collaboratively and diligently in the development of an Interim OUSD Grading Protocol that fosters our District Core Values of Equity, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence. Our recommended grading protocol has been formulated based on the following criteria:
- All Orange County districts have made a commitment to foster and implement an interim grading protocol that ensures a lens of equity & focuses on the primary goal of doing no harm to students
- It aligns with the Grading Recommendations released by the California Department of Education last week https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/gradegraduationfaq.asp
- It is very similar to what other OC districts and districts across the nation are facilitating
- It is grounded in culturally relevant teaching & learning research
Research on equitable grading practices provides insight into three principles that we must be cognizant of:
- Stress related to CoVID-19 will negatively impact student academic performance
- Student academic performance during school closures is more likely to reflect racial, economic, and resource differences
- Teachers are being asked to provide high-quality distance learning instruction, which is new to many of them
These principles and our commitment to our District Core Values and Goal Focus Area 3.0: Genuine Wellness & Safety provided the framework for our Interim Grading Protocol for Trimester 3 and Quarter 4. Many of our OUSD families and staff are experiencing severe emotional, physical, and financial challenges, which are inhibiting them from keeping academics as their main focus. This is a reality that we cannot or should not ignore.
We fully understand that there may be initial concerns about the Interim Grading Protocol as it may be perceived as not holding students fully accountable for their academic commitments. Teachers will have the opportunity to add written comments into the Aeries platform to flag students who are struggling with standards/concepts and who have incomplete assignments. The district office and site leaders will work with these families to design interventions in summer if social distancing mandates are lifted and/or in fall. Below you will find our Interim OUSD Grading Protocol:
OUSD Interim Grading Protocol for Trimester 3 & Quarter 4
We will provide a safe, equitable, and innovative culture of learning for each scholar to have a competitive EDGE as a leader
OUSD Interim Grading Protocol
Elementary/Middle School- Two grade options that include:
- Pass w/Distinction
- Pass
- Foreign Language/HS Math courses in Middle School will encompass A-C scale to ensure a lens of equity and a focus on the primary goal of doing no harm to students. (*CDE recommendation)
High School- Alter current grading protocol to a A-C scale to ensure a lens of equity and a focus on the primary goal of doing no harm to students. (*CDE recommendation)
Grading Protocol will include teacher opportunity for written comments in order for site leaders and DO staff to flag any struggling students for summer/fall interventions.
In order to assist with the successful implementation of this protocol, an Distance Learning Elementary Task Force and Distance Learning Secondary Task Force, comprised of teachers, District Curriculum Council representation, site leaders, and district office staff have been formulated to collaborate and recommend best practices and expectations in the following areas:
- Distance Learning Time Allotments/Schedules
- Student Workload
- Time given to Synchronous/Asynchronous learning
- Office Hours
Later this week an additional correspondence will be sent out from the Office of Curriculum & Instruction on these best practices and expectations. We thank you for your patience, understanding, and commitment to our District Core Values as we continue to address the needs of our students. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your site principal and/or feel free to fill out our Questions/Comments Form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1p68tOqyKhvOvJRM_lTTabV4gD07Xm-FdeDYEzvycwa8/edit?ts=5e876dd5
