
Making The Grade: How Should We Assess Students During A Pandemic?


A teacher starts to reset up her classrooms at Freedom Preparatory Academy in Provo, Utah. George Frey/Photo by George Frey/Getty Images hide caption
A teacher starts to reset up her classrooms at Freedom Preparatory Academy in Provo, Utah.
George Frey/Photo by George Frey/Getty ImagesNot every student is having the same experience at at home. Not everyone has the same access to technology, a quiet place to work or support from their parents. And that's always been true, but remote learning has made these disparities much more apparent.
Why should we keep assessing students in a way that puts them all on the same level? Is it time to do away with grades completely?
As a part of our "Homeworked" series, we spoke with Moriah Balingit, education reporter for the Washington Post, Jack Schneider, an assistant professor of leadership in education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the director of research for the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment and Tanji Reed Marshall, director of preschool-12 practice at The Education Trust.
We also spoke with Gabi Holzer, a rising senior from Hyattsville, Maryland, and Ryan Arruda, a rising sophomore in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, about their experiences learning remotely.
Like what you hear? Find more of our programs on our website.