As a parent, I've witnessed my high school senior receive lower scholarship offers from colleges due to District 196's current policy, which does not provide a weighted GPA. Sadly, this policy is adversely affecting my child's and many other students' chances of being granted significant scholarships, which are crucial for their path toward higher education. 

But why is a weighted GPA so essential? A weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of the courses students select, providing them with an increased boost for taking on advanced classes such as AP or honors. Not having this system in place can undersell the students' capabilities, and paint an incomplete picture of their academic prowess to colleges.  Without a GPA benefit to honors and AP courses, many students are encouraged to take on-level courses to ensure they earn the highest GPA, effectively encouraging mediocrity. 

According to the College Board, many colleges prefer to look at weighted GPAs as this offers a more comprehensive overview of a student's academic performance and rigor of their course load.

Did you know that District 196 is the only district of the largest 7 in the state to not offer weighted GPAs that recognize the extra rigor required for honors and AP classes.  This leaves District 196 students at a disadvantage when going up against the majority of MN college bound students.

We ask for a change in policy for the sake of our children's academic futures. Implement a weighted GPA system in District 196 to accurately reflect students' efforts and abilities. Help provide our children with the educational opportunities and scholarship offers they so rightly earned and deserve.

Join us in this important cause and sign this petition. Your voice matters in investing in a fairer and more representative education system for our children.