School district’s new grading system gives students a low grade of 40% instead of a zero

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - A school district in Missouri adopted a new grading system that prevents students from receiving a zero even if they didn’t do the assignment.

The Kansas City Public School district launched the “no zero policy.’

Essentially, the minimum grade on any given assignment is 40%. The policy is designed to help struggling students catch up, KCTV reported.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Latanya Franklin said that discussions to improve the KCPS grading policy began in the fall of 2021.

She said a new grading method has now adjusted the failing grade: from 0 to 59 percent, to 40 to 59 percent. The new system reflects non-Montessori students in grades K-12.

“These changes intend to reduce the adverse effects of zeroes on students’ grades, emphasizing growth and progress support and intervention and authentic learning and equity,” Franklin said.

Shepherd, who teaches 3rd and 4th grade, said one bad grade shouldn’t affect the entire semester or overall performance.

“If you give a student a 40 and then they learn that skill later in this semester those 80s and 90s they’re getting on their assignments will average out a little easier and it will make a more equitable grade,” said Shepherd.

“I do not like the zero policy,” said Sandra Dayse.

Dayse has one child who graduated from the district and another who is still attending. She said the new grading system gives s a false reality.

“There’s no way I could come to work each day and do 50% of my job and stay employed,” said Dayse. “Instead of doing the Zero grading policy, I would wish the district and the districts doing this would find the root problem.”

The school district released the following statement about the new grading policy:

“KCPS understands some of the negative thoughts around the policy, we believe it more accurately reflects a student’s work throughout a grading term. It’s about properly evaluating where a student is in their academic journey, which isn’t really reflected accurately when a couple of zeros throw the average off-balance. But we understand others may not always see it that way.”

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