Public School Parents Criticize Grading System

Public school parents confronted education officials yesterday at a City Council hearing, calling new letter grades for schools unfair and handing over thousands of petitions demanding they place less emphasis on test scores.

Activists described the rushed exit from the hearing of the city official who created the grading system, James Liebman, as evidence that the city is shutting out public voices.

An Education Department spokesman, Andrew Jacob, said Mr. Liebman has addressed three public meetings in the past week alone.