Assembly Bill 104
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On Thursday, July 1, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 104 into law, and we’d like to provide you with important information on how this legislation may relate to your student. The bill contained three major provisions: retention, grading, and graduation policies.
Below you will find information about each provision:
Retention
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With the passage of Assembly Bill 104, students are eligible for a retention consultation if they received deficient grades for at least one-half of their coursework in 2020-21 and their parents are interested in holding them back a grade level. Deficient grades include grades of D, F, or No Pass on a secondary report card OR a "1" on an elementary report card. This temporary retention policy is in addition to any existing district retention policies.
Parents/guardians of eligible students must request the retention consultation in writing no later than August 13, 2021. Districts then have 30 calendar days to hold the consultation and 10 calendar days after that meeting to issue a final decision.
How to Request Retention ConsultationIf you would like to request a retention consultation for your “eligible pupil” (a pupil who has received deficient grades for at least one-half of the pupil’s coursework in the 2020-21 academic year), please follow these steps:
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Write a letter requesting your child be considered for retention for the 2021-22 school year.
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Submit the written letter to your school's principal.
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You will be contacted and a consultation meeting will be held within 30 calendar days after submitting your request.
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Grade Change Request
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The deadline for applying for a Pass/No Pass grade change is Friday, August 13th. This deadline has passed.
With the introduction of Assembly Bill 104, families have the opportunity to apply to receive a Pass or No Pass grade for a high school course completed during the 2020-2021 school year. This Pass or No Pass grade would replace a letter grade on your student’s transcript.AB/SB 167 provides additional time for students to be able to request grade changes from letter-based grading to a Pass/No Pass grade.There are no limits on the number or type of courses eligible for a grade change, but be mindful:All applications MUST be received by 3:00 pm on Friday, August 13th!We are prohibited from accepting any applications after this date.FSUSD will make the change to your student’s grade within 15 days of receiving your application. The grade change will not negatively affect your student's grade point average. Some postsecondary educational institutions, including those out-of-state, may not accept a pass or no pass grade instead of a letter grade for admission. The California Department of Education has provided a list of post-secondary institutions that will accept a transcript with a Pass or No Pass grade instead of a letter grade for admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Assembly Bill 104?
AB 104 is a new legislation recently signed into law that includes the following provisions and rights:
- Parents/guardians (Educational Rights Holder) of students who were enrolled in high school during the 2020-21 school year may request to have a letter grade earned for a course changed to a Pass or No Pass on the student's transcript.
- Any student who was enrolled in 11th or 12th grade during the 2020-21 school year and who is not on track to graduate in four years is exempt from local district graduation requirements that are beyond the state-minimum graduation credits and course requirements.
- Students are eligible for a retention consultation if they received deficient grades for at least one-half of their coursework in 2020-21 and their parents are interested in holding them back a grade level.
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Who can apply for the AB 104 Retention?
Students in grades K-11 that are eligible pupils. An “eligible pupil” is defined as a student who received deficient grades for at least one-half of the student’s coursework in 2020-2021 academic year.
K = NT (Needs More Time)
Grades 1-3 = N (Needs Improvement)
Grades 4-6 = D/F
Grades 7-11 = D/F or No Pass
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How do I request a Retention Consultation?
If you would like to request a retention consultation for your “eligible pupil” (a pupil who has received deficient grades for at least one-half of the pupil’s coursework in the 2020-21 academic year), please follow these steps:
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Write a letter requesting your child be considered for retention for the 2021-22 school year.
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Submit the written letter to your school's principal.
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You will be contacted and a consultation meeting will be held within 30 calendar days after submitting your request.
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Which courses qualify for the grade changes to Pass / No Pass?
Any and all courses taken during the 2020-21 school year qualify for the grade change to Pass / No Pass.
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Is there a deadline for submitting an application for grade change?
Yes. Per the legislation, districts may not accept requests for a grade change after 15 calendar days from the date the application is posted on our website. All applications MUST be received by Friday, August 13th, 2021.
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What happens once the application is submitted to the district?
Once the application is received by FSUSD, the District then has 15 days to make the change on the student’s transcript and notify the family.
Please note: Students who are currently over the age of 18 may submit a grade change to Pass/No Pass independently from their parent/guardian.
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How does the Pass / No Pass impact Grade Point Average (GPA)?
As per AB 104, the change cannot negatively impact a student's GPA. When an “F” is converted to a “No Pass,” the zero points are no longer factored into the GPA. Changing a “D” or even a “C” letter grade to a “Pass” may increase a student’s GPA, depending on the GPA the student had prior to the grade change. No grade changes will be made that lower a student’s GPA.
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What is the impact of the Pass / No Pass to admissions to a college or university?
As per AB 104, California State Universities (CSUs) will accept for admission purposes, and without prejudice, a transcript with a Pass or No Pass grade instead of a letter grade for any coursework taken during the 2020-21 school year. However, this is not the case for all universities. UC colleges and private universities are encouraged, but not required, to notify the CDE over the next two weeks about whether they will accept Pass/No Pass marks for purposes of admission. This list of universities can be found by clicking the link on the right hand side of this page and by clicking here.
