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Board OKs June Jordan School's performance-based graduation requirement after student, parent endorsements
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Education voted to authorize June Jordan School for Equity to use a performance-based "Masterpiece" portfolio and oral defense as an alternate graduation requirement, after staff reading, a short student video and multiple parent and student testimonials.
The Board of Education voted June 24 to authorize June Jordan School for Equity to implement a performance-based graduation requirement that will allow students to graduate by passing a portfolio-based "Masterpiece" process, including written work and an oral defense. Mary Richards, district director for small and charter schools, read amended resolution language that specified a "performance-based graduation requirement."
Supporters described the Masterpiece as a way for students who do not perform well on standardized tests to demonstrate college-level writing, critical thinking and presentation skills. Parent and student speakers said the portfolio process had helped students with learning differences, increased confidence and produced higher-quality written work. "I'm an LD student with severe dyslexia. I don't do well on standardized tests, but I can demonstrate and share what I know," said a June Jordan student during public comment.
The Curriculum Committee brought the measure forward with a positive recommendation and the Rules Committee asked for wording adjustments; the board accepted a staff change replacing language referencing "additional" graduation units with language about a "performance-based" requirement. Board members discussed a technical edit to replace a reference to "graduation requirements" with "admission prerequisites" where appropriate for college eligibility language.
The resolution requires June Jordan students to meet SFUSD credit requirements, pass the Masterpiece Process (written work plus oral presentation and defense) and make a good-faith effort toward UC/CSU admission requirements; if students have made that effort but still do not meet UC/CSU course checks, they would not be barred from district graduation under the proposal. During public comment, multiple parents described how the Masterpiece enabled their children to demonstrate strengths not visible on standardized tests.
The board completed a roll call vote approving the resolution.
The district will post the final amended resolution and staff said it will follow up with administrative steps to implement the Masterpiece process at June Jordan and monitor results. The board suggested a follow-up report next year on how the program affects graduation outcomes and postsecondary readiness.
