Art Matters Too: NJ 'Grade Weighting' Bill Passes, Goes To Governor's Desk

Should arts classes count the same on a student’s transcript as any other course?

That’s the intent of a new bill – passed by both houses of the New Jersey Legislature on Monday – which now goes before Governor Chris Christie’s desk for veto or approval.

The bill – A311 – would “require public schools to weight courses in visual and performing arts equally with other courses worth same number of credits in calculating grade point average.”

“The arbitrary and unequal grade weighting between similar courses creates an artificial barrier to students who have a desire to participate in the arts,” the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership wrote following Monday’s vote.

“When a school district applies unequal weighting for equal courses students are forced to choose between their passion and their grade point average and class rank. This is not only unfair… but it flies in the face of our own educational expectations.”

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