The leadership of the Wake County school board may have changed, but staff is still advocating changes that would eliminate classroom behavior from academic grades.

As noted in today's article, staff came back with the same recommended changes that stalled before the prior board in August. Staff is seeking the new school board's approval to go ahead with this revised grading policy and new R&P.

During Thursday's student achievement committee meeting, board member John Tedesco was the main proponent of the changes. Board member Jim Martin was the main critic.

School administrators are getting some support in their efforts to review and possibly change grading practices in middle schools and high schools.

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children issued a press release Saturday in which it says the grading review "will allow all students an equal opportunity to receive equitable evaluation on assessments."

Supporters of the review argue that the elimination of work habits and behavior will make grades truly reflect what students know. Critics complain that the potential adoption of policies such as not giving out zeroes could set a bad example for students.

UPDATE

Calla Wright, head of the CCCAAC, is raising concerns about the headline describing them as a black advocacy group. She said the group's members include people of many different races and that their support for the grading review isn't designed to benefit children of any particular race.

The "Grade Doctor" won't be making any house calls to Wake County.

As noted in today's article, school administrators have broken off contract negotiations with education consultant Ken O'Connor, who calls himself "The Grade Doctor." Administrators had been hoping to hire him to speak with teachers as part of the district's review of middle school and high school grading practices.

At a cost of as much as $6,000 a day for up to eight days, the contract negotiations had become controversial.

It looks like staff managed to defuse concerns school board members had about potential changes to grading practices.

As noted in today's article, staff explained to board members that they plan on bringing in parents, students and possibly the business community into the review that teachers are conducting of grading in middle schools and high schools.

Even though they want to hire education consultant Ken O'Connor, they stressed they're not telling teachers they need to adopt recommendations such as not reducing grades for late work or cheating. They said they're simply trying to get teachers talking about the issue.

Wake may pay as much as $48,000 to bring in "The Grade Doctor" to talk with middle school and high school teachers about grading practices.

As noted in today's article, Wake may pay as much as $6,000 a day for up to eight days of speaking time from Ken O'Connor, an education consultant from Canada who calls himself "The Grade Doctor."

O'Connor's price tag, in the midst of this recession, and some of his recommendations are raising red flags that will be addressed at Tuesday's school board student achievement committee meeting.