Bill ending grades for schools should be heard
After passing nearly unanimously in the House, House Bill 198, by Rep. Marie Poulson, has yet to be assigned to a committee for a hearing in the Senate. This bill would make a small, but important, change by eliminating the single letter grade schools receive based on their test scores.
Not to be confused with grades that students receive on papers or in courses, the school grade has numerous flaws because it uses no nuance and is punitive to schools serving both low-income demographics and high numbers of students in special education or with IEPs. Many states have already started to eliminate school grading policies in favor of other assessment models.
Utah parents and teachers want this policy to be permanently changed. The Senate Rules Committee should allow this bill to be heard.
Ashley Anderson, Salt Lake City