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All SBUnified schools will continue to provide emergency distance learning through spring 2020. The District’s primary aims during school closure are to maintain positive connections with students and families, and to continue to support our students’ learning. We acknowledge the variety of demands this emergency places on students, families and staff. This transition to distance learning requires a different approach to student grading that will hold students harmless from the difficult circumstances they may face.
We know some students will struggle to process new learning or demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of course content under these extraordinary circumstances. Our lower income students and students with special needs may experience even greater challenges, while students whose families have been impacted in new ways by the pandemic may not have the ability to fully engage in distance learning. In recognition of the uncertainty, stress and inherent educational inequities that exist at present, staff recommended a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) model as the most equitable approach to evaluating student learning.
The Board of Education approved a policy in which the issuance of CR/NC marks for the final reporting period of the 2019-20 school year would be the default for all students, with an option for high school students to earn a letter grade in one or more classes. Due to the unique bell schedules at San Marcos and La Cuesta High Schools, principals of those schools may communicate modifications to policy application as appropriate for those schools.
In addition, due to the stay-at-home order issued by Governor Newsom, the requirement to complete pending community service hours for seniors who would otherwise earn a diploma at the conclusion of School Year 2019-2020 shall be waived.
For more information and resources, please continue to visit our district’s webpage at https://www.sbunified.org/. Included on this page is information about distance learning, technology support including internet connectivity, mental health and wellness resources and contacts, food and other assistance for families in need, enrichment resources, and more.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership.
1. What is the grading policy for the final reporting period of the 2019-2020 school year?
1. What is the grading policy for the final reporting period of the 2019-2020 school year?
Elementary Schools
Elementary schools will not issue report cards for Trimester 3 (June 2020) and instead focus on providing ongoing feedback on learning to students and families for 2019-2020.
Junior High Schools
Junior high schools will operate under a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) policy for spring semester 2020.
Senior High Schools
High schools will implement a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading system for spring semester with an option for letter grades if a student so chooses.
The default standard is a CR/NC grading system for all students.
Students may opt to earn a letter grade for individual courses.
Application of Policy for Secondary Schools
A CR/NC or a letter grade (high school only) will be based on the student performance as of 3/13/2020. Any student work evaluated after March 13th can improve a student’s standing, but not harm it.
2. How will the policy be implemented?
2. How will the policy be implemented?
For most schools, a Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) mark (or a letter grade option for high school students only) will be informed by the student performance as of 3/13/2020:
Any student work evaluated after March 13th can improve a student’s standing, but not harm it.
Students who were earning a grade of “D” or higher on 3/13/20 will automatically have this grade converted to “CR.” High school students may choose to earn a letter grade if they are able to earn a letter grade of “C” or better.
For any students who were earning a grade of “F” on 3/13/20, every effort will be made to engage with and provide support to these students to enable them to earn “CR.” Depending on the student’s individual circumstances, appropriate marks shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students may ultimately be issued a mark of “NC”; no high school students shall earn a failing grade of “F” for spring semester or Term 4.
For students attending San Marcos and La Cuesta High Schools, Term 4 signals the start of a new semester that will be transcripted separately from Term 3 classes. Many such classes will be brand new courses (i.e. Government for 5.0 credits). Students enrolled in a new course for Term 4, must complete the work for these classes in order to obtain Credit (or letter grade, if preferred). For new courses only, any student work evaluated after May 8th (i.e. progress report grade to mirror the original intent of the Board Policy) can only improve a student’s standing, but not harm it. All other Board Policy language (from 4/21/2020) will apply to all subjects continuing from Term 3.
Application:
Students completing the 2nd semester of a course (e.g. English 11B), a “hold harmless” date of March 13 will apply per Board Policy decision 4/21/2020.
Students completing a new course (e.g. Economics), must complete the assigned work for the course in order to obtain Credit (or letter grade, if preferred). Staff will use a “hold harmless” date as of May 8th, 2020 (progress report period), after which point, work completed can only improve a student’s standing, but not harm it.
3. Why did SBUnified transition to a default system of Credit/No Credit for the final reporting period of the 2019-2020 school year for junior high and high school?
3. Why did SBUnified transition to a default system of Credit/No Credit for the final reporting period of the 2019-2020 school year for junior high and high school?
The primary factors that the staff Grading Policy Committee took into consideration were:
the high degree of variability reported by staff and students in terms of the experience of distance learning,
the validity and ramifications of letter grades in the context of distance learning,
the widely reported stress on the part of students and staff in response to conditions that are uncertain and wholly unprecedented, and
the exacerbation of inherent inequities in the educational system under the conditions of school closure.
The committee specifically honed in on studying the impact of the proposed grading policy on college-eligible sophomores and juniors, and had the benefit of direct consultation with UC admissions officers in understanding this topic.
4. Why did SBUnified include letter grades as an option along with Credit/No Credit at the high school level?
4. Why did SBUnified include letter grades as an option along with Credit/No Credit at the high school level?
Many members of our community gave input that they wanted grades to be optional for students. This affords students choice as to CR/NC or letter grades. High school is the only level at which students earn credits that count toward graduation, and it is the only level that colleges and universities review for admission.
5. Who decides if my child will get Credit/No Credit or earn a letter grade?
5. Who decides if my child will get Credit/No Credit or earn a letter grade?
Student grades will default to CR/NC for spring semester (Term 4 at SMHS and LCHS); only high school students may choose to earn a letter grade in one or more classes by completing the steps below. This is a highly personal choice and we encourage students and families to discuss the potential pros or cons of choosing letter grades at this time. We encourage students to talk with their counselor about the options if they have questions.
6. How does my high school student indicate if they want a letter grade for a class instead of Credit/No Credit? When do they have to indicate what they want?
6. How does my high school student indicate if they want a letter grade for a class instead of Credit/No Credit? When do they have to indicate what they want?
On Friday, May 8: Progress report grades will be issued to all students.
On Monday, May 11: Your student will receive links to two Google forms via email:
High school students who wish to change from the default CR/NC system to a letter grade must complete and submit a response via the appropriate Google Form: Spring 2020 Letter Grade Request. Students will have to indicate which class period(s) they are choosing a letter grade.
Students who change their mind after submitting a preference for letter grade and wish to revert back to the default CR/NC grading system must complete and submit a separate Google Form: Letter Grade Request Amendment.
Any form submissions must be received no later than Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
On Friday, May 22, teachers are expected to ensure that gradebook records in NEO (or alternate platform) are current prior to the May 27th deadline for submitting forms.
To reiterate, Wednesday, May 27 is the deadline to submit forms indicating students’ preferences regarding final grades.
7. How will Credit/No Credit impact my child’s GPA?
7. How will Credit/No Credit impact my child’s GPA?
Credit/No Credit will not impact a student’s GPA. It will not be factored into the calculation. First semester grades (Term 1, 2, and 3 grades for SMHS and LCHS) will be factored into a student’s GPA for 2020-2021. If a student chooses to earn a letter grade(s), that grade will be factored into the student’s GPA.
8. How will having a choice of letter grade or Credit/No Credit impact my child’s admission to colleges or universities?
8. How will having a choice of letter grade or Credit/No Credit impact my child’s admission to colleges or universities?
Institutions of higher learning have issued statements that make it abundantly clear that no students will be penalized for CR/NC marks instead of letter grades. Conversely, students who submit transcripts with letter grades vs. CR marks will not be looked upon more favorably for admissions purposes.
Colleges and universities depend heavily on an official document from all high schools called the School Profile. School Profiles explain circumstances to colleges, including graduation requirements, grade point average calculations, honors courses, average SAT/ACT scores, and other elements that make schools unique. In this case, the shift to our district’s temporary grading policy in the response to a global pandemic will be described. College admissions officials evaluate students against the School Profile, so whatever is or is not offered at other schools in our district or in California has limited bearing. Four-year colleges and universities have overwhelmingly indicated that students will have an opportunity to convey any individual circumstances contributing to the decision to default to CR/NC or opt for a letter grade in instances where an entire school district did not offer only CR/NC or only letter grades.
9. What do the UC and CSU systems have to say about Credit/No Credit vs. grades?
9. What do the UC and CSU systems have to say about Credit/No Credit vs. grades?
The UC and CSU systems are very clear that there will be no penalty to students for CR/NC marks this spring due to the global pandemic and school closures. Please refer to the California Department of Education language referencing the UC, CSU, and other college systems: “The university systems are willing to accept credit/no credit grades in lieu of letter grades for all courses, including A–G courses, completed in winter/spring/summer 2020 for all students. Grades of credit/no credit will not affect the UC or CSU calculations of GPA” (https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/gradegraduationfaq.asp). In addition, the universities have identified a range of other flexibilities they will offer to support students’ access to college during this time. Please see the joint statement issued by a consortium of colleges, universities, the State Board of Education, and the California Department of Education.
10. Will colleges and universities beyond the UC and CSU system accept Credit/No Credit?
10. Will colleges and universities beyond the UC and CSU system accept Credit/No Credit?
Many institutions of higher learning throughout the United States are responding to the global pandemic with emergency, temporary grading policy changes. According to the Harvard Gazette, several universities, including Dartmouth, Stanford, Yale, and MIT, are all adopting grading policies similar to Credit/No Credit, such as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
11. Will Credit/No Credit impact graduation eligibility for seniors?
11. Will Credit/No Credit impact graduation eligibility for seniors?
No, the implementation of a CR/NC grading system will not negatively impact graduation eligibility for seniors. Seniors need to earn credit for any course required for graduation. For instances in which students are assigned “NC” for a course required for graduation, it is possible for students to satisfactorily complete coursework during the summer in order to fulfill high school graduation requirements and earn a high school diploma.
12. How will Credit/No Credit impact placement for next year’s courses?
12. How will Credit/No Credit impact placement for next year’s courses?
In most cases, students had already registered for courses prior to school closure. For students in an articulated sequence (e.g. math, world languages), students will still progress to the next level in the course sequence as determined by course requests submitted prior to school closure. We have test scores, grades, and other data from the first three quarters of the year to help us determine placement. Additionally, we have been working closely with SBCC to ensure that our students will not be penalized for placement into Dual Enrollment classes.
13. How do I motivate my child if s/he/they is not earning a letter grade?
13. How do I motivate my child if s/he/they is not earning a letter grade?
Motivation is complex and can be both extrinsic and external (e.g. grades, paychecks, etc.), or intrinsic and internal (e.g. desire to learn, urge to help others, etc.). While many of us are motivated by external factors, such as grades, there is also motivation that can come from keeping up with learning, pride in doing good work, and preparing for next year, whether in the context of high school, college, and/or the world of work. Many students are suffering from a loss of routine and normal life, and some are experiencing new levels of stress, anxiety, and/or depression due to school closure. We encourage you to talk openly with your student about feelings during this time, especially around school work, and the importance of learning for its own sake. Please reach out to your counselor if your child is experiencing signs of emotional distress and/or loss of motivation.
14. My child is in Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Are exams still being offered?
14. My child is in Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Are exams still being offered?
The College Board is offering modified AP exams during the window of May 11-22, with makeup exams available the week of June 1-5. Students who previously registered for the AP exams may take a 45 minute modified exam at home using a phone, laptop, or other device. Students whose exams include written pieces may handwrite or type their responses. AP exams will only cover the first three-quarters of the year, and free online resources are available to help students prepare. For more information, please visit Updates for AP Students.
International Baccalaureate has canceled its May exams. For more information on IB Diploma programs and details on how IB is responding to the COVID-19 Emergency, please click on this link.
15. My child is in Dual Enrollment courses through SBCC. How does this new grading policy impact his/her/their status for admission next year?
15. My child is in Dual Enrollment courses through SBCC. How does this new grading policy impact his/her/their status for admission next year?
We have been working closely with SBCC on dual enrollment courses. Students will be eligible to enter SBCC courses next year using first semester grades, or, where available, grades from Term 3 or Quarter 3. Additionally, students who do not meet minimum criteria for admission can apply for a waiver form, available here: Prerequisite Clearance Petitions (Forms A and B). Allow 7-10 business days for verification by SBCC. Forms may require department approval.
Students can submit forms online here: http://www.sbcc.edu/teo/prereqclearance.php
Teacher/counselor statements (Form B) can be submitted to prerequisites@sbcc.edu.
Unofficial transcripts will be accepted as official, if they are emailed by a school representative (counselors and teachers). Submit directly to transcripts@sbcc.edu.
Summer/Fall 2020 English 110 placement criteria: In the likely event that students do not have letter grades at the end of the spring semester, students will need to have earned a B- or better at the end of the 2019-2020 fall semester, and a B- or better at the end of the third quarter or Term 3 (March 2020). Students who do not meet this criterion, but have an English teacher's support to place into English 110, can submit a Prerequisite Form B with a supporting teacher statement.
The SBCC policy is in alignment with UC a-g by determining that a passing grade means C- or better. Please stay in contact with your Dual Enrollment teacher regarding registration status, deadlines, and processes for determining letter grades, P/NP or dropping a course.
SBCC Dual Enrollment Message about Pass/No Pass vs Letter Grade Option
This message is being shared by SBUSD on behalf of our SBCC dual enrollment partners, and is intended for students who are taking a dual enrollment class on their high school campus. This does not apply to courses taken online/through remote learning at SBCC. The purpose of this message is to outline important differences in the grading policies of SBUSD courses and SBCC dual enrollment courses.
The Pass/No Pass option is NOT the default at SBCC. Letter grades are the default at SBCC.
All work completed before school closure through the end of the spring semester will be calculated in the final grade. Student grades can increase or decrease during this time.
Students in SBCC classes at the high school must earn a C- or better in the course in order to earn a Pass on their SBCC transcript.
Students will need to submit a request to SBCC to select a P/NP grading option.
The Pass/No Pass Request process and deadline will be announced next week, but students should plan on making this decision by mid-May.
We strongly advise you to discuss with your counselor before making the decision to request a P/NP option.
The default grading option for SBCC classes is letter-grade (A, B, C, D, F). Students taking SBCC Dual Enrollment classes at their high school have the following grading options. Please discuss these options with your student and help them communicate the decision to their high school instructor and counselor.
Pass/No Pass grading option - To request a Pass/No Pass option instead of a letter grade (A, B, C, D, F), students must submit a request to their instructor by 11:59pm on Friday, May 15th, 2020
COVID-19 Excused Withdrawal - Students can request an excused withdrawal from the SBCC class. They will still receive high school credit with a passing grade. The deadline to submit a COVID-19 Excused Withdrawal is one year from the completion of the class (June 3, 2021)
Students may have additional options to opt-out of SBCC credit based on their registration status. Students should speak to their instructor for more information.
Please click here for additional information SBCC Dual Enrollment Options For Spring 2020 - Applies to SBCC Classes @ the High School
16. For advanced learning courses in high school (Honors, AP, IB, Dual Enrollment), will grades still be weighted on the transcript for spring 2020?
16. For advanced learning courses in high school (Honors, AP, IB, Dual Enrollment), will grades still be weighted on the transcript for spring 2020?
Yes, for instances in which high school students opt to earn a letter grade for weighted high school courses.
17. What does the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) have to say about Credit/No Credit for athletic eligibility?
17. What does the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) have to say about Credit/No Credit for athletic eligibility?
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) allows local school districts to determine eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. SBUnified has determined that eligibility criteria for athletics for fall 2020 will be completion of a minimum of four classes with a mark of “CR” or a letter grade of “C” or higher during the final spring term of 2020. The use of GPA based on spring semester/Term 4 grades for eligibility purposes will be eliminated.
18. How is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) evaluating eligibility?
18. How is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) evaluating eligibility?
Students are encouraged to complete their NCAA-approved core courses through the channels of instruction provided or recommended by their school, district or state department of education. For information from the NCAA regarding COVID-19, please visit ncaa.org/COVID-19 and continue to monitor for more information from the Eligibility Center at on.ncaa.com/EC_COVID.
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