In what may prove a classic case of unintended consequences, California school districts, in a supposed effort to raise standards, are launching "No-D" grading policies, which require students to earn a C or better to pass a course. Proponents maintain that "if the passing grade is set at C, that's where many students will aim their efforts." Critics respond that "a D means you're not working to the standards yet, but you may be trying to do the work," and add that if a D student "is trying his best" and still fails s/he might just give up the effort altogether. Notably absent from this debate is the effect such policies will have on already rampant grade inflation. Will setting C as the minimum passing grade encourage students to work harder, or will it simply encourage teachers to give Cs where they used to assign Ds? Given that ed schools urge their graduates to worry more about bruising Johnny's self-esteem than about making sure he knows how to read, write, and count, we'd predict the latter.
"No-D policy gains wider acceptance," by Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2003