Placer Union trustees pause districtwide CBE rollout, restore interim traditional grading with conditions

The Placer Union High School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to pause parts of the districtwide competency-based education (CBE) rollout and adopt an interim grading approach while a multi-stakeholder working group develops longer-term changes. The board approved an interim structure that restores letter marks (A, B, C), retains Incomplete and No Credit marks, requires use of proficiency scales for courses and permits departments to set how scales are weighted and whether to use a 4-point or 100-point gradebook for the spring term.

The action followed presentations from ATP bargaining-unit representatives and district administrators detailing a fall staff survey and implementation problems. Jacob, an ATP bargaining-unit representative, said the union received 127 responses from roughly 200 members and reported that “the majority of responses said they’ve had a negative experience with CB so far.” He told trustees many staff cited excessive grading time, training gaps and limited flexibility in the district’s gradebook setup.

The board’s decision is explicitly temporary and effective immediately. Trustees directed district staff to convene a working group of teachers,…