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District grading review: Spanish department advises against restoring a high-school 'D' grade
Summary
A district grading subcommittee reported on work with math and Spanish departments and said representatives from the three comprehensive high schools advised against reinstating a 'D' grade for advancing between Spanish course levels, citing concerns about language proficiency and progression.
District staff reported Thursday on progress from the grading subcommittee’s work with department representatives. The board received an update that focused on math work done earlier and a current report from Spanish instructors.
Joe (district curriculum lead) told trustees that the Spanish department is revising internal curriculum and aligning grades to the updated 2019 standards, which emphasize authentic use of language (communicative skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening) and cultural knowledge. He said Spanish gradebooks for Spanish I–III are being structured so that 50%–75% of a course grade is assessment-based, with remaining weight for assignments and participation depending on course specifics.
On the question of reinstating the “D” grade in high school, subcommittee representatives reported that a majority of the participating Spanish teachers (eight of the departmental representatives present) opposed returning the D. Their rationale: a D does not indicate sufficient proficiency to advance students from Spanish I to II or II to III without repeating substantial portions of the course. Teachers said that retaining the higher threshold for progression helps preserve language proficiency across levels.
The committee will continue discussions in the spring and examine further details, including retake policies, late work and the role of formative practice in grading. Trustees asked about whether the position represented all teachers districtwide; staff said the report drew from representative voices across the three traditional high schools and that the subcommittee will return with additional input later in the school year.
