We know many of you may feel confused or concerned about the district’s Covid-response move towards a no-zero grading policy. Though the move feels sudden here in Bend-La Pine, no-zero policies are ones that have gained increasing traction in schools both inside and outside of this country.

We thought it would be helpful for you to see some no-zero resources so you can be better informed about the rationale that many schools and districts have embraced.

1. Harvard Distinguished Author Dr. Doug Reeves, the founder of Creative Leadership Solution, a non-profit dedicated to improving educational opportunities for students explains why traditional zeros are mathematically inaccurate. (2:53)

2. 2017 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year Ross Kasun authors this blog post for Education Elements. He lays out the case for moving away from zeros as getting us closer to the education we all want to provide. The Misconception of Zeros

3. Liz Dunham, middle school principal in Germany, discusses the reasons zero are better for students in the short-term, but teach exactly the lessons we don’t want them to learn: Why Zeros Should Not Be Permitted

4. Fair isn’t Always Equal: Assessing and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom author Rick Wormeli discusses zeros and why they don’t work for us as teachers. Specifically, he addresses our fears around making such a shift. (8:42)