No Zero Grading Part IV: How Texas Addressed the Issue

It was easy.

The legislature received complaints from teachers about artificial grade manipulation being dictated downward from administrators--stymieing individual teacher discretion while simultaneously precluding such teachers from assigning students any letter grade below an artificially set "grade floor" of 50, 60, or even as high as 70!

These legislators passed the Texas Truth in Grading Act in 2009--and it passed the legislature with unanimous support.  Unanimous.

Here is the simple text of the original bill.  I think we may need something like this locally.  I'm bringing this to the board.

81R13223 EAH-F
	By: Nelson	S.B. No. 2033

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to adoption of a school district grading policy.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 28.0216 to read as follows:
	Sec. 28.0216.  DISTRICT GRADING POLICY. A school district
	shall adopt a grading policy, including provisions for the
	assignment of grades on class assignments and examinations, before
	each school year. A district grading policy:
	(1)  must require a classroom teacher to assign a grade
	that reflects the student's relative mastery of an assignment; and
	(2)  may not require a classroom teacher to assign a
	minimum grade for an assignment without regard to the student's
	quality of work.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
	school year.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.