The Lakeville Board held a first reading Jan. 13 of proposed changes to Policy 6.20, which governs grading and the use of weighted grades. Superintendent Bauman presented a redline showing removal of several notes and a proposal to apply a 1.25 multiplier to AP course grades for students entering 10th'12th grades in 2026'27 while striking other weighting provisions.

Directors expressed differing views. Director Thompson said he favored ending weighted grades altogether to avoid GPA distortions that advantage students who begin accelerated paths early. "I am in alignment with the intent of the policy, to remove weighted grades," he said. Director Baker and several administrators argued for a phased approach to uphold commitments made to students already enrolled in weighted courses and to avoid retroactively changing expectations for those students.

Administrators noted technical and statutory complications: Minnesota guidance and statute can require weighting across categories if some courses are weighted, and college admissions systems strip or normalize weights in different ways. District staff told the board they are researching concurrent-enrollment expansion to offer rigorous in-district college-credit options as an alternative to PSEO.

No vote was taken; the item will return for a second reading at the board's next meeting, where directors said they expect further information about implementation impacts and enrollment patterns.