Manhattan CB2 members press DOE for citywide grading policy during remote learning

Members of the Manhattan Community Board 2 Schools & Education Committee met by video conference to press the New York City Department of Education for a single, citywide grading policy during the district’s period of remote instruction.

Committee members, school parents and representatives of the District 2 Citywide Education Council said inconsistent local grading decisions risked amplifying existing inequities and creating confusion for families applying to middle and high schools. The committee agreed to draft a resolution urging DOE guidance; members indicated a majority preference for a binary/pass‑fail model for the year, paired with teacher narrative comments.

The issue framed the meeting: Janine (committee organizer) opened the call saying the main agenda item was “grading during remote learning.” Mar Fitzgerald, a public member of the committee, summarized the stakes: “Who cares about grading? I think the quick answer is everyone.”

Speakers described how remote instruction has affected different students. The committee’s presentation included districtwide figures cited during the call: 73 percent of New York City students live in poverty (about 819,000 students), roughly…