AB 104 - Pass/No Pass Grade Option
California's K-12 and higher education communities are committed to working together and helping high school students overcome university admissions and placement challenges presented by the pandemic and the absence of in-person instruction. To this end, Assembly Bill 104 was signed by Governor Newsom and became law on July 1, 2021. Section 2 of this new law applies to pupils enrolled in high school in the 2020-21 academic year.
Section 2 requires high schools to grant a request from the parent/guardian of a pupil who was enrolled in high school during the 2020-21 academic year (or the pupil, if 18 years of age or older) to have a letter grade earned for any course, as reflected on the pupil's transcript, changed to a Pass/No Pass grade. High schools may not limit the number or type of courses eligible for this grade change.
Additionally, the new law requires California State Universities to accept for admission purposes, without prejudice, a transcript with a Pass/No Pass grade instead of a letter grade (pursuant to the provisions of this bill) for an applicant who was enrolled in a California high school during the 2020-21 school year. The bill also encourages the University of California and private postsecondary educational institutions to do the same.
Pupils/Parents/Guardians are required to submit a grade change application to their school’s counseling office within 15 calendar days of the district's posting of this notice on its District Website (July 30) and providing written notice to its pupils and their parents/guardians. Schools/district shall not accept applications after the date of August 20, 2021. High schools shall change a transcript and notify the pupil and the pupil's parent/guardian within 15 days of receiving the pupil's application.
The application to request a grade change to Pass/No Pass can be found here:
Additionally, a list of colleges and universities that have indicated they will comply with the policy to accept a transcript with a Pass/No Pass grade instead of a letter grade can be found here:
List of Colleges and Universities
PLEASE NOTE: SOME POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, INCLUDING THOSE IN OTHER STATES, MAY NOT ACCEPT A PASS/NO PASS GRADE INSTEAD OF A LETTER GRADE FOR ADMISSION PURPOSES.
HUSD students and families have experienced and overcome exceedingly challenging and difficult times during the pandemic. We are honored to work with you and support your college/post-secondary goals.
Your student’s counselor can provide more information on the potential benefit of changing a grade to pass/no pass.