San Fran school district reverses course on proposed ‘grading for equity’ after huge backlash

Officials with the San Francisco Unified School District reversed course on plans to implement a “grading for equity” strategy after facing heavy criticism.

The proposed plan to modify grading methods in the city’s high schools was presented in an SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday and was met with swift backlash.

According to the Voice of San Francisco, Superintendent Maria Su unveiled the plan “without seeking approval of the San Francisco Board of Education.” The proposed plan would have affected over 10,000 students if implemented at 14 high schools in the fall.

“Were it not for an intrepid school board member, the drastic change in grading with implications for college admissions and career readiness would have gone unnoticed and unexplained. It is buried in a three-word phrase on the last page of a PowerPoint presentation embedded in the school board meeting’s 25-page agenda,” the outlet noted.

“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,” the Voice of San Francisco reported.

Notably, the plan would allow a student to earn an A grade with a score of 80, and scores as low as a 21 would still allow a student to pass with a D. A reported 70 teachers in 14 SFUSD schools would have tested the strategy this fall if not for the outraged reactions from the community and even the mayor.

“We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said on X.

“I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future,” the mayor added.

We owe our young people an education that prepares them to succeed. The proposed changes to grading at SFUSD would not accomplish that.

I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future.

— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) May 28, 2025

The plan sparked bipartisan criticism.

“San Francisco has come up with a brilliant solution for its failing schools. Students simply won’t be failed,” U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) sarcastically wrote on X. “Under the new ‘Grading for Equity’ plan, Fs are now Cs; Bs are now As; homework and tests are ungraded; truancy is unpunished; and finals can be re-taken again and again.”

“My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90,” Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna, of California, wrote in a post on X. “He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving A’s for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids.”

My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving A’s for 80% & no homework is not equity—it betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids. https://t.co/aFcF8SurV9

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) May 28, 2025

Su issued a statement in light of the reactions and said the plan was on hold.

“It’s clear there are a lot of questions, concerns, and misinformation with this proposal. We want to make sure any changes benefit our students,” the superintendent said.

“I have decided not to pursue this strategy for next year to ensure we have time to meaningfully engage the community,” Su added. “Right now, we need to continue to focus on balancing our budget, stabilizing the district, and rebuilding trust.”

Please see my recent statement. https://t.co/mmtRdfBdbU

— Dr. Maria Su (@SFUSD_Supe) May 28, 2025

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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