The Grading for Equity (GFE) Workgroup and Educational Services are recommending two (2) revisions to AUSD's Board Policy and Administrative Regulation (BP/AR 5121) Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement.

The GFE Workgroup comprised of secondary teachers from across the district was formed during the 2021-22 school year. The task of the workgroup is to actualize AUSD's Strategic Plan goal of reviewing and revising AUSD's grading policy and practices. The GFE Workgroup provides feedback and recommendations aimed at moving AUSD's grading policies and practices toward grades that are more accurate, bias resistant, and motivational.

The two (2) recommended revisions are:

1. Minimum Grading which is setting a 50% grading floor, and
2. The requirement that all AUSD teachers use the District managed gradebook, Aeries.

During Professional Development on August 8, 2023, the recommendations for policy change were presented to the secondary teaching staff for their feedback and input. At the August 10, 2023, Board Policy Subcommittee meeting, the feedback gathered, and the results of the survey conducted during PD on August 8th, were presented to the Board Policy Subcommittee for their review and recommendations.

At the October 9, 2023, Professional Development, recommendations made by the Board Policy Subcommittee on August 10th were shared with the secondary teachers. On October 17, 2023, Staff once again presented BP/AR 5121 Grades/Evalution of Student Achievement to the Board Policy Subcommittee. At this meeting the Committee had the following three options as next steps:

1. The policy and administrative regulation would be added to the next Board Policy Subcommittee meeting for further discussion and possible revision by Subcommittee members.
2. The policy and administrative regulation would be added to the agenda for a regularly scheduled Board meeting so the full Board could weigh in on any further changes in public.
3. The policy and administrative regulation will be approved as is by the full Board at a regularly scheduled public Board meeting.

The recommendation at the October 17th Board Policy Subcommittee meeting was #2 above. The policy and administrative regulation would be added to the agenda for a regularly scheduled Board meeting so the full Board could weigh in on any further changes in public.

Once the Board of Education has reviewed and discussed the recommended revisions to BP/AR 5121 Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement, staff seek the approval of the Board of Education to adopt these changes. If approved, these changes will come into effect in the 2024-25 school year.