New York Mayor Says Schools Dropping Traditional Grades for Some Students

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a news briefing about COVID-19 at City Hall in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on March 14, 2020. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced the Department of Education’s new grading policy amid the challenges of pandemic-driven school closures that he said would strike a balance between standards and flexibility.

“Today we’re announcing a new grading policy for the current semester that fits the moment we’re in NOW,” de Blasio said in a tweet, characterizing the new policy as “one that keeps our standards in place but adds flexibility because of what students and families are going through.”