LAUSD Launches Survey on Homework, Grading, Retention, and More

LAUSD is offering an online survey to families who wish to provide input on homework and how much it affects a grade, on moving a passing grade from a “D” to a “C,” on social promotion, and how best to provide intervention to students.

I think as the survey goes on, it gets a bit muddier for every day parents.  Does the average parent understand enough about the use of data to make an informed choice between parent outreach and professional development to help struggling students?  But the questionnaire is a step in the right direction.  Asking parents how much homework their children actually receive, and whether all teachers should be grading on the same rubric for the same class taught seem to be scratching at the surface of some of the issues parents regularly face.  Raising a passing grade to a “C” seems to make sense since no college will accept a “D,” but it wouldn’t take affect until 2015 or 2016, so there’d be plenty of time for outreach.

In the end, I believe the homework decisions should be made on a school-by-school decision, but it is a step in the right direction to ask parents where they stand.