Reimagining Assessment: Equitable Grading and Labor-Based Grade Contracts

2026 Equity Conference - WORKSHOP 3A: Reimagining Assessment: Equitable Grading and Labor-Based Grade Contracts Kristen Everhart | Miramar College (CA) What if grading could motivate learning while also promoting equity? In this interactive workshop, participants will explore equitable grading practice that shift the focus from points and performance to meaningful learning and student engagement. We will begin by examining how traditional grading systems can unintentionally reproduce inequities and discuss practical strategies instructors can use to create more transparent, supportive assessment practices. The second half of the workshop will focus on labor-based grading and grade contracts, an approach that evaluates students based on the work they complete rather than subjective judgments of quality. Participants will learn how this model can increase student motivation, reduce grade anxiety, and create clearer expectations for success. Through guided activities, instructors will have the opportunity to restructure and revise their own assignments, so they align with a labor-based grading framework. Together we will explore how to translate existing assignments into contract-based structures, clarify expectations for student labor, and design grading systems that reward persistence, revision, and engagement. While especially relevant for humanities and communication courses, the strategies shared in this session can be adapted across disciplines. Participants will leave with concrete tools, example contract structures, and practical ideas they can implement immediately to make their grading practices more equitable, transparent, and student-centered.