Sweetwater Union High School District has created a “no credit pandemic” grade option and is encouraging teachers to use it instead of failing students during the pandemic.
Sweetwater is joining a growing number of districts adopting alternative ways of grading to help students struggling because schools are closed and they are learning remotely.
Teachers will assign the “no credit pandemic” grade to students who are facing pandemic-related learning challenges, such as a lack of internet access or a computer, and students who have not participated in online school for a significant period of time.
The grade will give students a chance to make up the class later on and will not be factored into a student’s grade point average, said Ana Maria Alvarez, Sweetwater’s assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, in a board meeting Monday.