South Carolina bans grade floors, requires teachers to report Actual Student Performance

Overview:

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has signed a law banning "grade floors" — the practice of assigning students a minimum grade higher than they earned.

Gov. Henry McMaster has signed a new law eliminating so-called “grade floors” in South Carolina schools, a practice that allowed teachers to assign students a minimum grade higher than what they actually earned. The change takes effect next school year, and districts that continue the practice risk losing 10% of their state funding.

Grade floors have typically allowed students who score very low — say, a 40% — to receive a minimum of 50% or 60% on an assignment or test. Critics say the approach masks academic struggles and gives families a misleading picture of how their children are doing.

“Right now, because of the use of grade floor practices in multiple school districts across the state, students and parents are often receiving an inflated sense of what their students are capable of doing,” said Patrick Kelly of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

Ryan Dellinger of the Palmetto Promise Institute said the reform is about readying students for life beyond the classroom. “We need to prepare our students for life after school, and that means having honest accountability and a realistic view of how they’re doing and what they need,” he said.

Education leaders also say more accurate grades will strengthen communication between schools and families. Dr. Dena R. Crews, president of the South Carolina Education Association, said parents who see true averages will be more likely to seek help early. “They’re able to come up to the school, have conversations and conferences with teachers and other educators in the building, and get support for their child,” Crews said.

The law includes two additional provisions: students must submit all required assignments on time before enrolling in credit recovery programs, and district benchmark tests may guide instruction but cannot count toward a grade unless teachers have already covered and reviewed the material.