Pass-fail, pass-incomplete replaces traditional grading in Texas schools for 2019-20 school year

After an abrupt change to Texas schools and quick pivot to remote learning, schools have shifted gears to operate off of a pass-fail or pass-incompleelte grading system.  

Many teachers and students are having a hard time adjusting to remote learning, which has made grading accurately a difficult task to accomplish and led the state to forgo grading in place of pass-fail or pass-incomplete.

Holly Eaton of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association said the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic was significant and unfortunate for schools. In early spring, schools are typically not adjusting to new ways of doing things.

"You are solidifying concepts learned, not to mention preparing for the state test in April,” Eaton said. 

But this year, teachers had less than three weeks to prepare for remote learning as the coronavirus pandemic hit the nation.

“The education community has done an incredible job of trying to keep everything as normal as possible in light of the significant disruption in all facets of students’ lives,” Eaton said. 

But Eaton said schools are now in uncharted territory, which makes giving grades difficult. 

She said the best case scenario is when a student has Wi-Fi at home, a quiet environment and a caregiver home for help and stability. 

But this isn't the case for many students. Some live in noisy, unstable environments without internet access.

“We have had to dramatically change the way we instruct kids," Eaton said. "And what their learning situation is like has dramatically changed. So attempting to assign grades, given all the adaptations that have taken place, is asking a whole lot. And it is not necessarily representative of the work that’s being done."

Eaton said some teachers were unsure of changing the grading system, but now realize it's the best option for such a difficult change as online education.  

“I don’t even know any other way to do it," Eaton said. "The inequities are so bad. The ability to assess in the way you could before isn’t there. It just makes sense."

The Texas Education Agency provides plenty of online guidance for teachers and school districts as they try to evaluate grades this year, Eaton said. Texas has given local school districts leeway in how to handle the process as well. 

Texas teachers said summer school will help students that don't succeed with remote learning and receive an "incomplete" grade, Eaton said. But school districts have yet to decide exactly what the summer school options will be for student that receive an "incomplete."

It's not unusual for some students to wind up having to repeat a grade. But the goal is to reach out to struggling students and create options to help them move on to the next grade level. 

Potential options include packets of on-paper work, summer school or online courses.

“We’re going to provide opportunities for them to extend their learning,” Dr. Steven Wurtz of the Arlington Independent School District told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “We’re not going to fail them and make them start over.”