A controversial high school grading policy at San Francisco Unified has been quashed almost as quickly as it was announced after a massive, public outcry.
Superintendent Maria Su announced Wednesday that the district would not be moving forward with the so-called “grading for equity” policy which had caused a public firestorm a day earlier.
“I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community,” Su said. “Right now we need to continue to focus on balancing our budget, stabilizing the district, and rebuilding trust.”
The Voice of San Francisco summed up the policy in an article Tuesday:
Grading for Equity eliminates homework or weekly tests from being counted in a student’s final semester grade. All that matters is how the student scores on a final examination, which can be taken multiple times. Students can be late turning in an assignment or showing up to class or not showing up at all without it affecting their academic grade. Currently, a student needs a 90 for an A and at least 61 for a D. Under the San Leandro Unified School District’s grading for equity system touted by the San Francisco Unified School District and its consultant, a student with a score as low as 80 can attain an A and as low as 21 can pass with a D.
The pilot program was supposed to start at 14 schools in 2025-26, but it fell victim to a wave of criticism. In a post on X, journalist and author Derek Thompson said it sounded like “what you’d get if a bunch of 10yos locked the teachers in a closet and rewrote the rules.” The proposal was also slammed by Rep. Ro Khanna, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, and San Jose Mayor Mahan.
Equitable grading policies have been on the rise since the 2018 publication of “Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms.” The influential book, authored by Joe Feldman, views the traditional grading system as inherently biased against certain groups and a contributor to social injustice. SFUSD had planned to contract with Feldman to implement the new system.
This is not the first time SFUSD has toyed with an unpopular policy in the name of equity. The perceived abandonment of accountability and meritocracy in favor of social justice goals was a major driver behind the shakeup at SFUSD three years ago. These types of policies have become part of a broader narrative about “woke” ideology in blue cities that emphasizes virtue at the expense of outcomes.
As the Democratic Party struggles to fix its brand, Rep. Khanna wants the public to know that policies like this one don’t represent his party — or California — as a whole.
“We have a new generation of common sense Democrats with @DanielLurie and me speaking out on this absurd grading for equity policy,” he wrote Wednesday. “I am glad the superintendent took notice after a few hours and backtracked.”