Equitable Grading
Investigations
- Issues
- Consulting
Total states: 11
Total districts: 42
Total dollars spent: $9,193,269.75
Total federal funds used: $4,561,450
SUMMARY
From 2014 to 2025, 42 school districts across seven states have paid consultants $9,193,269.75 for equitable grading professional development. This report is intended to highlight the districts and money spent on this practice.
It is also important to note that many districts (not included in this report) promote equitable grading practices to district teachers, yet do not engage in contracted professional development.
Equitable assessments, equitable grading (or grading for equity), or sometimes called anti-racist assessment has become a popular grading framework that seeks to address “inequities” and “bias” in education. In doing so, it incorporates “accuracy,” “bias-resistance” and “motivation.”
The goals for equitable grading include eliminating achievement gaps and increasing graduation rates. It is rooted in the belief that all inequitable outcomes are the result of implicit and systemic bias (for example, white supremacy) and creates barriers to success for minority and low-income students.
Learn more on our “Understanding Equitable Grading Jargon” page.
This is not a comprehensive report and will be updated when new information becomes available.
EXAMPLE
Modesto City Schools
Since at least 2019, Modesto City Schools has contracted with consultants to implement equitable grading practices as the standard model for district teachers. The district has paid Creative Leadership Solutions and California Education Partners $4,297,000 since 2022 for professional development that includes equitable grading practices. Out of the total spent on consultants, $3,937,000 came from federal funds (Title II and Comprehensive Support and Improvement funds).
DISTRICTS
California
Acalanes Union High School District
- 2019 – Crescendo Education Group – $37,000
- 2019 – Crescendo Education Group – $17,500
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $55,100
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $75,000
Alameda Unified School District
Alhambra Unified School District
Bellflower Unified School District
Castro Valley Unified School District
Compton Unified School District
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $130,000
- 2025 – Crescendo Education Group – $231,600
- 2025 – Crescendo Education Group – $38,500 (Title II funds)
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Davis Joint Unified School District
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $5,500
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $38,300
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $5000
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $44,500
Dublin Unified School District
El Dorado Union High School District
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $31,000
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $9,000
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $22,500
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $115,000
Hayward Unified School District
Jefferson Union High School District
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $100,000 (Title I funds)
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $119,000 (Title I funds)
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $80,400 (Title I funds)
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $8,000
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $18,000
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $7,000
Modesto City Schools
- 2022 – Creative Leadership Solutions, LLC – $120,000
- 2023 – Creative Leadership Solutions , LLC – $2,025,000
- 2023 – California Education Partners – $270,000
- 2024 – Creative Leadership Solutions, LLC – $1,792,000
- 2024 – California Education Partners – $90,000
Napa Valley Unified School District
Oakland Unified School District
- 2014 – Crescendo Education Group – $16,000
- 2015 – Crescendo Education Group – $15,000
- 2016 – Crescendo Education Group – $17,063
- 2017 – Crescendo Education Group – $21,063
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $41,000
Orange Unified School District
Pasadena Unified School District
Pittsburg Unified School District
Pleasanton Unified School District
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $78,000
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $17,900
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $26,500
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $90,000
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $57,500
Riverside Unified School District
- 2020 – Crescendo Education Group – $7,300
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $5,500
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $12,000
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $9,000
San Jose Unified School District
San Leandro Unified School District
- 2015 – Crescendo Education Group – $37,180
- 2016 – Crescendo Education Group – $164,700
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $9,900
Santa Ana Unified School District
Santa Barbara Unified School District
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $100,000 (Title II funds)
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $20,000 (Title II funds)
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $14,175
Santa Clara Unified School District
Sonoma Valley Unified School District
West Covina Unified School District
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $8,000
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $8,000
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $98,000
- 2025 – Crescendo Education Group – $122,500
Connecticut
New Haven Public Schools
Illinois
Chicago Public Schools
- 2021 – Crescendo Education Group – $41,240
- 2022 – Crescendo Education Group – $53,925
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $33,550
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $50,979
Massachusetts
Boston Public Schools
Cambridge Public Schools
Minnesota
Rochester Public Schools
White Bear Lake Area School District
New Jersey
Millburn Township Public Schools
New Mexico
Albuquerque Public Schools
- 2023 – Crescendo Education Group – $194,246.25
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $194,246.25
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $13,800
- 2024 – Crescendo Education Group – $194,246.25
New York
Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES
Schenectady City School District
Ohio
Springfield City School District
South Carolina
Richland School District Two
Virginia
Arlington Public Schools
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