Beyond standards-based grading: Why equity must be part of grading reform

Most justifications for standards-based grading and similar practices focus on the pedagogical reasons for the shift, such as the fact that such grading practices more accurately reflect student mastery than traditional points-based grading. Joe Feldman argues that grading practices should also be viewed as a way to promote equity and that standards-based approaches are a vast improvement over traditional practices. An equity-based approach to grading reduces disparities between students who have resources and those who do not. © 2019 by Phi Delta Kappa International.