rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/suspend-grading-protocols-for-all-k-12-new-jersey-students?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-suspend-grading-protocols-for-all-k-12-new-jersey-students' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> MapSO Freedom School https://actionnetwork.org/groups/mapso-freedom-school https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg On Thursday, April 16, 2020, the governor wisely extended New Jersey public school closures through at least May 15, 2020 due to the ongoing global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a host of unanticipated trauma and challenges that students, teachers, and parents/guardians/caregivers have never encountered before and accentuated many others that already existed. In the midst of this pandemic, we have undertaken a rapid and sudden transition from traditional schooling to schooling in the midst of a crisis at home. Our students who are already most impacted by educational injustice will be most harmed by the "business as usual" approach towards grading and schooling during the middle of a global crisis. Many of our students and their families are facing a host of challenges that range from, but are not limited to: parental unemployment parents juggling work from home and teaching during a crisis food insecurity socio-emotional challenges lack of or uneven and inequitable access to wifi/internet/technology new and unfamiliar learning platforms Sickness and/or death in the family lack of access to accommodations, teaching aids, and other supports for bilingual, ESL, 504, and students with (dis)abilities We are asking that the New Jersey Department of Education suspend "normal" grading protocols for all K-12 students throughout the state during this COVID-19 pandemic. It is not enough for the state to leave this decision up to the benevolence or altruism of individual districts; this must be a mandate handed down by the state. New Jersey educators have been provided the much needed relief of having standardized tests and SGOs canceled this school year. This courtesy must be extended to our most vulnerable populations, our children. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/suspend-grading-protocols-for-all-k-12-new-jersey-students