Teacher Concerns Rise over CCSD’s New Grading Model

Clark County School District (CCSD) students will head back to the classroom on Monday. While many families are hoping to get back to a semblance of normalcy with in-person courses, there will be some changes, including to grades.

“This grade change takes behaviors completely out of the question,” Tam Lester, teacher at Del Sol Academy, told 8 News Now. “And it, arguably, at the detriment of the student.”

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The new district-wide scale sets the lowest grade at 50%. Behaviors, such as attendance, participation and late or missing assignments, will not influence a grade.

During a back-to-school kickoff, Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara explained this will create equity across the district by having grades reflect knowledge instead of non-academic factors.

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However, Lester says this new policy takes tools that incentivize students away from teachers and does not instill accountability.

“What they will need is those learner-ready behaviors,” he said, “things like focus, things like participation, things like time management. Some of these policies are taking those away.”

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