EVERYBODY BREATHE!

I'm sure that if you live in Memphis, you've seen this floating around the last few days:

TERRIFYING!!!

Apparently, I'm the only person who has sense enough to actually, you know, do research on things that concern me. So to simplify the process for the rest of the world, here's why you need to calm the fuck down about the ASD grading scale:

1. This grading system is only being used by schools deemed "failing" and are now under state control. The entire Shelby County School system is NOT, I repeat, is NOT converting to this new grading scale.

2. It's only being used for K-8. Grades 9-12 are still under the old grading system under state law because those grades have be uniform across the state and this grading system is, I repeat, RESERVED FOR "FAILING" SCHOOLS

3. The reason for the switch is that they were noticing that A and B students weren't achieving above average scores on their state exams. They were actually scoring MUCH lower but their grades weren't actually reflecting their true proficiency of the standards (part of the reason why they are NOW under state control)

So untwist your undies people. All the schools aren't adopting the new scale. Nobody is "lowering the standard." Feel free to call all your relatives and brag to all your co-workers about how your kid made the Principal's List and how it still "means" something. I strongly suggest, however, that you make sure your "A" students really understand their curriculum and aren't just really, really good at busy work.

And I'm not talking out of my neck. This information can be found here: