Recently, Greenville County School District in South Carolina outlined a new grading floor that would no longer allow teachers to enter a zero into the grade book for any reason, including cheating, plagiarism, or failure to complete the work. This grading floor was implemented with little to no teacher, parent, or community involvement. 

The grading floor's goal would be to have students master the material, and until that was accomplished, a place holder grade of 61 points would be entered into the grade book. This grading floor is intended to keep students motivated and able to bounce back after receiving a low score. However, Greenville County already had a policy in place of flooring to a 61 at every report card quarter (instead of every assignment), and having teachers record a minimum amount of both major and minor grades. Recently, teachers in the county grew concerned when they noticed that more students than ever were simply not completing the work, and were being given a grade of 61 points. Students taking advantage of the grading floor are now easily able to pass a course by simply completing one or two assignments. Many students in Greenville County middle schools are also enrolled in high school credit courses, causing concerns that inflated averages would now interfere with GPA, class rank, and scholarship opportunities. Parents have voiced concerns that they had not been notified of the changes that took place with the grading floor, and have expressed that it has caused a decline in motivation for their children. 

Parents, teachers, and community members would like to see Greenville County School District abandon this detrimental grading floor. 

For local supporters, the next Greenville County School Board Meeting is Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00 at the District Office. The address is 301 Camperdown Way, Greenville, SC. Community members may sign up to speak before the board.