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Monrovia board weighs replacing 2.0 GPA with A–G eligibility to expand college access
Summary
School leaders proposed removing a 2.0 district GPA requirement from graduation policy and prioritizing California A–G course completion to increase eligibility for automatic CSU admission under SB 640; trustees requested implementation details and supports before final action.
Board members and district staff on Thursday discussed a proposed change to Monrovia High School’s graduation policy to emphasize California A–G course completion over a district 2.0 grade‑point threshold.
At the meeting, Dr. Zamarripa and Dr. Tanya Cabeza said the policy change is part of a broader effort to raise college readiness and equity. “If we focus on A–G eligibility, we ensure students take and pass the specific college‑preparatory courses that CSU campuses require,” Dr. Zamarripa said.
The discussion came as the state is expanding automatic admission pathways. Staff referenced SB 640 as expanding automatic CSU admission for eligible seniors and said increasing A–G completion would streamline access for Monrovia students.
Trustees pressed for details about implementation. One board member asked how removing the 2.0 requirement would affect cases where students face hardships; staff noted Education Code 51225.1 and existing hardship provisions can address some exceptions but said the proposed change adds a further layer of support rather than removing protections.
Dr. Cabeza described steps already underway: transcript audits begun in January, tier‑2 intervention plans developed with partners (Hatching Results and Carpe), and an expectation that counseling teams will proactively track cohorts and intervene earlier. “We start with freshmen and audit across cohorts so we identify off‑track students early and develop individualized plans,” she said.
Board members also discussed complementary strategies such as adding a third year of math, standards‑based grading reviews to ensure grade accuracy, and increasing counselor capacity at the high school. Trustees asked staff to return with details on staffing, caseloads, timeline, and safeguards to prevent unintended consequences before the item returns to the agenda.
The board did not take a final vote on policy language; members signaled support for continued work and agreed to bring revised language and an implementation plan back to a future meeting.
