Taking the Grading Conversation Public

To manage effective grading reform, education leaders must engage teachers, parents, communities, and policymakers in a rational discussion about grading. Doug Reeves suggests that leaders start the conversation with a discussion of the principles on which all stakeholders can agree; make clear what will not change under the new grading policy; be accurate in their risk analysis; and engage in systems thinking to reframe the grading debate from "my grading policies for my classroom" to a collegial responsibility for the decisions of every teacher and administrator in the system.