How ‘Equity Grading’ Fails Students

Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) changed its grading policy in 2016 to one that mirrors the policies described in “Schools Ditch Homework, Deadlines” (U.S. News, April 27). At that time, I was both a BCPS teacher and parent. The negative outcomes outweighed the positive intent.

BCPS adopted a no-zero policy that set the lowest possible grade for any assignment or test at 50%. This policy allowed students to do minimal work—even sometimes no work—and still pass. It replaced test scores well below 50% with the required minimum. The artificially inflated grade often propelled students forward who lacked proficiency and encouraged students to skip assignments altogether.