# Remaking the Grade-Pathway # Remaking the Grade Values-Driven Leadership - A Learning Pathway ![student with headphones is studying](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-08/REMAKING%20THE%20GRADE%20compare-fibre-e5sTz361Jzg-unsplash.jpg?itok=9YsvJhUd) ## Case Overview In 2021-2022, Arlington, VA, faced criticism from teachers and parents when the district announced a plan to make homework more equitable by eliminating deadlines and other requirements. *How can schools address inequalities in the resources available to students when it comes to homework completion? What can schools do to level the playing field between students who have ample family, social, and financial resources to support their educational success and students who have access to fewer such resources?* **You can find and download the full case study below.** ## Key Questions You Will Explore - *How can educational leaders balance their many responsibilities to different stakeholders, including students, educators, parents, school board members, and the broader community?* - *How can leaders help other stakeholders understand the ways that they use values to make decisions?* [ Download Narrative Case Study (PDF) arrow\_circle\_right ](/resource/remaking-gradenarrative-case-study082025) --- ## Hear from the Experts Why is this issue a real dilemma? Watch short video commentaries to explore the complexities, challenges, and values at stake in this case. As you watch each video, consider the following questions: - *What resonates with you in this video?* - *What questions does this video raise for you?* - *How does this video impact your understanding of the dilemmas in the case?* ## On Evolving Values Frank Barnes, Faculty Director and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education, answers the question: How can leaders balance their individual values and the community's values? ## On Rebuilding Trust Caitlin Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of Leading Now, answers the question: How can district leaders build and rebuild trust with their community? --- Additional Resources Case Reflection Questions ## Additional Resources - Jay Matthews of the *Washington Post* brought national attention to the homework controversy in Arlington, Virginia, with his December 26, 2021 opinion piece. [Click here to read his article on the homework controversy (redirect).](https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/12/26/homework-grading-curve-arlington-assignments/) - [Click here to read the full text of an open letter teachers at Wakefield High School wrote criticizing Arlington's revised homework policy (redirect).](https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/va-teachers-push-back-on-equity-proposal-to-abolish-some-grades-late-homework-penalties) - On October 19, 2021, the school board received a presentation on the homework and grading proposal from the working group. [You can see that school board presentation here (redirect).](https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/school-board-work-sessions-meetings/) - Arlington drew heavily on Joe Feldman’s book *Grading For Equity* when designing their revised homework policy. [This written interview with Feldman in Harvard’s Ed Magazine (redirect)](https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/ed/19/05/grade-expectations#:~:text=Equitable%20grading%20has%20three%20pillars,of%20the%200%E2%80%93100%20scale.) provides an overview of his vision for equitable grading practices, along with a link to a longer podcast interview. - [This piece from Education Next (redirect) examines the impact *Grading for Equity* has had in schools and explains what standards-based grading looks like in practice. ](https://www.educationnext.org/time-to-pull-plug-on-traditional-grading-supporters-say-mastery-based-grading-could-promote-equity/) - San Francisco attempted to implement a policy similar to Arlington’s and also experienced opposition. Learn more about why [San Francisco schools backed down on their “grading for equity” plan following a backlash (redirect). ](https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-francisco-grading-for-equity-backlash-sfusd-backs-down/) - If you want to learn more about how issues of racial and economic inequality play out in wealthy suburban schools, consider reading the book [Race at the Top: Asian Americans and Whites in Pursuit of the American Dream in Suburban Schools (redirect).](https://natashawarikoo.com/race-at-the-top/) ## Case Reflection Questions - *What do you believe is the purpose(s) of homework?* - *Has your district ever faced pushback to a new policy? What happened?* - *Which stakeholder(s) in this case are you curious to learn more about? What more do you want to know about their views?* ### Are You Hoping to Lead People Through This Learning Pathway? The **Pathway Facilitation Guide** provides comprehensive information and guidance for teaching and learning with this learning pathway: - guidance on customizing your pathway - best practices for normative case discussions - detailed protocols for each case - discussion questions for different audiences - extension activities for personalized learning Want facilitation materials and guidance just for this one case? Download the **Case Facilitation Guide**! [ Pathway Facilitation Guide (PDF) arrow\_circle\_right ](/resource/values-driven-leadershipfacilitationguide10292025) [ Case Facilitation Guide (PDF) arrow\_circle\_right ](/resource/remaking-gradefacilitation-guide10292025) ![ a facilitator directing conversation between others](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-06/EdEthics%20graphics%20%281%29_1.png?itok=jFdsIGXq) ## What's Next? Exploring the Other Cases in this Pathway This pathway contains five cases and supporting materials that explore dilemmas related to educational leadership in K-12 settings. Click on each case below to learn more and to access the resources. ### First Rate: Dilemmas in Teacher Evaluation expand\_more An elementary-school principal new to her district must decide how to evaluate a beloved veteran teacher who struggles with the instructional core. *What makes for quality teaching—and how do we measure it?* [ Explore "First Rate" (redirect) arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/first-rate-pathway) ![collection of school books](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-08/FIRST%20RATE%20pierre-bamin-UgHM_w05lr4-unsplash.jpg?itok=15Wv7Jih) ### On the Merge: School Closure in a Rural District expand\_more A school board member in a rural district must decide whether to vote to merge the district’s two high schools, thus closing down a beloved school with close community ties. *What will best serve the students in town—keeping both schools open with deep cuts or merging them into one school?* [ Explore "On the Merge" (redirect) arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/on-the-merge-pathway) ![empty school yard](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-08/pexels-mary-taylor-5896843.jpg?itok=mArfLGmy) ### Bending Toward—Or Away From—Racial Justice?: Culturally-Responsive Curriculum Rollout at Arc Charter expand\_more An instructional coach in a charter network with five schools faces challenges as she attempts to roll out a new culturally-responsive curriculum. While the curriculum was developed and implemented successfully at the network's Downtown campus, it has drawn concerns from both parents and teachers at the Coastal location. Should the instructional coach heed these concerns and modify or delay the rollout of a curriculum she deeply believes in? *How can instructional leaders balance their own values with the values and concerns of the communities they serve?* [ Explore "Bending Toward—Or Away From—Racial Justice?" (redirect) arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/bending-towards-or-away-racial-justice-pathway) ![open history book with a map of the United States and a compass](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-08/BENDING%20TOWARD%E2%80%94OR%20AWAY%20FROM%E2%80%94RACIAL%20JUSTICE_%20chris-lawton-o0l-M8W_7wA-unsplash.jpg?itok=mc7dOkeC) ### Photo Bomb: Responding to Online Transgressions expand\_more A pair of seventh graders in Madrid take a topless photo of a female classmate using WhatsApp and forward it to the rest of the class. While the girl in the photo hopes never to hear about the situation again, members of the teaching and administrative staff wonder whether the incident should serve as a learning opportunity for the whole student body. *When the entire school community is affected by behavior that happens at home, how should teachers and school leaders respond? What responsibilities and limits does the school have to discipline students for out-of-school behavior?* [ Explore "Photo Bomb" (redirect) arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/photo-bomb-pathway) ![a teenager and two adults point at a laptop screen](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-08/Screenshot%202025-08-06%20110855.png?itok=VwAZOYGI) [ Click Here to Return to Values-Driven Leadership Home Page (redirect) arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/values-driven-leadership-learning-pathway) [ Your input helps us improve. Click here to give feedback. arrow\_circle\_right ](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2sp6a4EjmfRjiPc) ## Want to Learn More? [### Full Normative Case Study Library ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/case-overview)Check out more normative case studies related to dilemmas in education. ![collection of educational ethical dilemma cases](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/Legacies%20and%20Lessons%20image%20editing.png?itok=-vcHcUeo) [### Ethical Leadership in Polarized Times: A Brief-Cases Suite ](https://www.justiceinschools.org/values-driven-leadership-briefcase-suite)Explore this collection of normative “brief-cases.” Each one-page case is designed to help educational leaders discuss ethical challenges wrought by social and political polarization. ![brief-case image](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-08/Values%20Driven%20Leadership%20Stock%20Photo%20Selection%20%28A2%20%28Landscape%29%29.png?itok=-MN35pYa) [### EdEthics | Values-Driven Leadership Video Playlist ](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQPfG5Q3OY1U3WNLQx2ub_T-sd2UqHSj8)Watch all the videos in our series of expert commentaries on values-driven leadership from school and district leaders, researchers, and leadership coaches. ![Jennifer Cheatham discussing values](/sites/g/files/omnuum3616/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/Jennifer%20Cheatham_Titlecard_Clip4.jpg?itok=bF25JBJs)