📚‘Grading for equity’ | Morning Newsletter
New apartments coming to the Navy Yard 🏢
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We may not be waking up to a Phillies win, but we have another chance tonight. Expect a sunny day and a high of 66. ☀️
Science Leadership Academy Middle School is the first Philly public school to adopt the practice of “grading for equity.”
The idea is to cut out the non-academic factors from grades and to focus on meaningful assessments that are a true reflection of the kids’ knowledge without giving an advantage to any student over another.
Our lead story explores how this works in practice.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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The fifth through eighth graders at Science Leadership Academy Middle School don’t have quizzes. There’s no extra credit, and there’s less emphasis on deadlines.
They can retake or resubmit assignments and tests as often as they like (within reason).
In their own words: “I feel like it’s way better,” said Aubrey, 11. “There’s a lot of feedback, and if you’re having a bad day or something is happening at home, you can retake a test. Now, I can see what I need to go in and change.”
The logic: Grades are an average of students’ performance over time, which benefits those who understand a concept at the beginning. But for students who struggle at first and begin with lower grades, that can be hard to overcome, even if they make progress later on. Equity grading proponents argue that style can perpetuate inequities, as students who begin with strong grades may benefit from a family who paid for a tutor or other educational support, while students who struggle may have had less resources. Meanwhile, only assessing how students perform in the end wipes away built-in disadvantages, proponents say.
Read more to see what teachers and parents have to say about the concept.
What you should know today
Police arrested the final accused Roxborough High shooter after more than a year on the run.
Be aware of road closures and parking restrictions in Center City Tuesday for the funeral of slain Philadelphia police officer Richard Mendez. He was fatally shot in a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage as he and another officer attempted to stop a car theft.
Two more SEPTA unions will vote on a strike after months of mediated talks with the transit agency failed to produce any progress toward agreements.
Food service workers at two restaurants at the Philadelphia International Airport voted to strike.
Someone vandalized a South Philly mosque and a senior citizen community across the street with anti-Muslim messages.
Five groups that represent residents and voters in South Philadelphia and Center City announced their formal opposition to the Sixers’ proposal of a downtown arena.
The Philadelphia Navy Yard will soon have new, private housing.
The groundbreaking of the 614-unit residential project is Tuesday.
Project details: It’ll be split into two buildings. One, dubbed Ave Normandy, will have 267 spacious units and higher prices. The second, named Ave Constitution, will have smaller units as well as 92 deed-restricted units with rents for those who make between $55,000 and $110,000 for a two-person household.
The size of this initial project is supposed to jump-start additional residential development in the Navy Yard.
Continue reading to check out the extensive amenities.
🧠 Trivia time
Christmas Village in Philadelphia will return next month.
How many visitors did it draw last year?
A) 650,000
B) 700,000
C) 850,000
D) 900,000
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
👀 Watching: Pennsylvania congressman Dan Meuser wants to be speaker of the House.
💭 Wondering: How old does something have to be before it becomes “vintage”? Urban Outfitters is selling older iPod models from the 2000s and billing them as “retro.”
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Academy Award-winner and a lifelong Birds’ fan 🦅
REPLACE BROODY
We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Email us if you know the answer. Cheers to Elaine Patrikas, who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: Billie Holiday.
Photo of the day
Thank you for hanging out this morning. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow!
