PUSD board to review updates on mastery-based grading practices

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The Pleasanton school board will be reviewing a presentation during Thursday’s board meeting on updates regarding mastery-based grading and how cohorts of teachers are receiving training to move away from standard grading practices.

Mastery-based grading is a different approach to grading students that involves three key features — a clear list of learning standards; an assessment of subject mastery instead of points or partial credit; and giving students multiple attempts to demonstrate mastery while also not penalizing them for failing to demonstrate mastery on earlier attempts, according to a California State University Introduction to Mastery Based Grading report from August 2020.

According to the district staff presentation, about 50 teachers and administrators began looking at professional development when it came to equitable grading practices and began investigating these practices as well as the impact the pandemic has had on students between 2020 and 2021.

Then, during the 2021-22 school year, about 35 teachers began studying mastery-based grading — in the 2022-23 that cohort of teachers grew to 70.

The presentation to the board on Thursday will go over several mastery-based grading guiding principles including the disproportionality of the traditional A-F grading scale; considering the effects of averaging scores and avoiding group grades.

According to the presentation, staff will also go over other principals such as removing extra credit; avoiding compliance grading like participation; and rethinking homework assignments as well as the consideration of offering retakes of tests and assignments.

Staff will also go over the timeline of teachers from different schools across the district learning more about mastery-based grading and will talk more about how they plan to create action research plans and how they will track the effects of mastery-based grading related changes within the classrooms.

The board’s open-session meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 12). Read the full agenda here.

In other business:

* The Board of Trustees will be receiving a report on the Pleasanton Unified School District Literacy Program, which will include updates on literacy instruction, professional development and different assessment practices.

The report will also include an update on Senate Bill 112, which authorizes the screening of all kindergarten through second graders for reading difficulties, including the risk of dyslexia.

“The Curriculum and Instruction department will be providing an overview of the district’s literacy programs and related shifts to pedagogy to provide explicit and systematic instruction in reading to support all students,” the staff report states. “We are pleased that we continue to deepen our understanding and work around supporting literacy instruction, including struggling readers and students identified with dyslexia.”

The presentation will occur in conjunction with honoring National Dyslexia Month, which will also be recognized by the board through a separate potential adoption of a new resolution that will update the 2017 PUSD Dyslexia Resolution.

“By updating the 2017 Dyslexia Resolution, PUSD confirms their commitment to utilizing evidence-based instructional practices and to providing early identification, support and intervention to students who struggle with reading,” the staff report states.

That additional agenda item resolution will be presented following the literacy program update report.

* District staff will be recommending that the school board approve a construction work change order for additional, unforeseen tenant improvements needed at the new district offices at West Las Positas Boulevard.

The change order calls for adjustments to the fire sprinkler system; replacement of variable air volume and pneumatic controls, which required work to be completed after hours; a change to the corridor by the school board room for fire rating concerns; and repair to acoustical ceilings.

Other changes such as adding a fire alarm system for the Adult Education and TV 30 future area, adding more outlets and data ports to several areas in the building, and changing the design of the board room have all raised the total project budget.

“During the course of the project the funds earned interest and were augmented by $316,436.00 from Measure I1 for a new roof for a total budget of $8,453,286.00,”according to the staff report. “As we near the completion of the new district office the original budget needs to be augmented by an additional $735,000 to complete the project for a total adjusted budget of $9,188,286.”

* The school board will be receiving an update on how different ways the district, schools, staff and overall community can better support Pleasanton’s LGBTQIA+ students and community.

“The Pleasanton Unified School District is committed to working towards the attainment of educational equity for all,” the staff report states. “Board policies, administrative regulations, and the organization work plan all have a focus on ensuring that each school creates a welcoming culture and inclusive environment that addresses historical biases; reflects and supports the diversity of all students, staff, families and communities; and promotes a safe and positive school climate for each student.”