Parents Guide to Standards Based Grading
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What is Standards Based Grading?
Standards Based Grading (SBG) communicates how students are performing on a set of clearly defined learning targets called standards. The purpose of Standards Based Grading is to identify what a student knows, or is able to do, in relation to pre-established learning targets, as opposed to simply averaging grades/scores over the course of a grading period, which can mask what a student has learned, or not learned, in a specific course.
How does Standards Based Grading differ from traditional grading?
Unlike with traditional grading systems, a SBG system measures a student’s mastery of grade level standards by prioritizing the most recent, consistent level of performance. Thus a student who may have struggled at the beginning of the course, when first encountering the material, may still be able to demonstrate mastery of key concepts by the end of a grading period.
In a traditional grading system, a student’s performance for an entire quarter is averaged together. Early quiz scores that were low would be averaged with more proficient performance later in the course, resulting in a lower overall grade than the current performance indicates.
Standards Based report cards separate academic performance from work habits and behavior in order to provide parents a more accurate view of a student’s progress in both academic and behavioral areas. Variables such as effort, participation, timeliness, cooperation, attitude, and attendance are reported separately, not as an indicator of a student’s academic performance.
How are my child’s grades determined?
A student’s performance on series of assessments (both formative and summative) will be used to determine a student’s overall grade in a course. Practice assignments (homework) are just that, practice, and thus should serve primarily as a source of feedback and instructional support for both students and teachers. Scores on practice assignments should not be used as a major component of a student’s academic grade. Teachers may require students to complete all of their practice work prior to allowing them to take, or retake, an assessment.
Will my student still receive teacher comments on assignments not graded?
Yes. Individualized feedback is an essential component of a SBG system. Effective feedback is a more useful source of information than simply assigning a numeric value or letter grade to student work.
What will each of the numbers in the 4 point scale represent?
A score of (4) would indicate that a student exceeds a standard by consistently demonstrating an advanced level of understanding and/or the ability to apply their knowledge at a higher level.
A score of (3) would indicate that a student has meet grade level expectations. The student shows an independent mastery of the standard.
A score of (2) would indicate that a student is developing an understanding of the standard, but still may be in need of additional instruction and/or support.
A score of (1) would indicate a minimal understanding of the standard. The student shows limited evidence of understanding the standard and cannot complete work related to the standard without help from their teacher.
A score of (NA or a standard without a score) would mean that the standard has not been assessed during the current grading period.
How should a student/parent view student grades now that the system of A-F has been replaced by a 4 point scale? What is considered an A in the new grading system?
You cannot really compare a traditional grading system to standards based grading. SBG identifies a standard and indicates whether or not a student is meeting the standard at a given point in the school year. A score of (3) is defined as meeting the grade level standards and indicates that a student has demonstrated mastery of the skills that were expected to be learned by that point in the grading period. In SBG, there is not an equivalent to an A, B, C, D or F. Parents should not view a score of (4) as an A and a score of (3) as a B, etc.
Is it possible to achieve a grade of 4?
Yes. However, a grade of (4) indicates performance that is consistently above what is expected for mastery at that point in the school year. Level 4 work would indicate much deeper understanding of a standard, the ability to apply that knowledge, make connections and extend learning beyond the targeted goal. Students who receive a (3) are where they need to be for that grade level. Most students will be scoring lower at the beginning of the school year and higher at the end of the school year.
If a student receives 1’s all year, does that mean the student will be retained?
If a student receives (1) and (2) scores it means his/her work is not yet meeting grade level expectations. A number of academic interventions are available for those students who are struggling to meet the established standards. Students scoring a (1) or (2) on any given standards at the beginning of the year will be assessed on those standards many times throughout the year with the eventual goal of scoring a (3).
How will I know if my child needs help?
Receiving a 1 or a 2 on a report card can be a sign that a student is in need of extra support in the areas where they received those scores. This is one of the benefits of a standard based report card, areas in need of support are clearly evident. Once again, scores usually are lower at the beginning of the year and as a student masters the academic concepts being taught in class, his/her scores will increase.
How will honor roll be determined?
The traditional concept of an Honor Roll does not easily match up with SBG. A committee of teachers will be formed to develop the criteria for academic recognition for the remaining scoring periods in the year. It is our intention to recognize and acknowledge the academic accomplishments of our elementary school students, as well as those who consistently display good citizenship/work habits.
Are all of my student’s grades standards based?
No. When you look on your child’s report card you will notice that all Specials classes are Pass or Fail.
Where else in the area is Standards Based Grading being implemented?
There are many school districts in southwest Missouri who have switched or are planning to switch to standards based grading. Our school currently uses SBG for all students up to the Fifth Grade. Next year, the Sixth Grade will move to SBG for grading purposes.
What is Standards Based Grading?
Standards Based Grading (SBG) communicates how students are performing on a set of clearly defined learning targets called standards. The purpose of Standards Based Grading is to identify what a student knows, or is able to do, in relation to pre-established learning targets, as opposed to simply averaging grades/scores over the course of a grading period, which can mask what a student has learned, or not learned, in a specific course.
How does Standards Based Grading differ from traditional grading?
Unlike with traditional grading systems, a SBG system measures a student’s mastery of grade level standards by prioritizing the most recent, consistent level of performance. Thus a student who may have struggled at the beginning of the course, when first encountering the material, may still be able to demonstrate mastery of key concepts by the end of a grading period.
In a traditional grading system, a student’s performance for an entire quarter is averaged together. Early quiz scores that were low would be averaged with more proficient performance later in the course, resulting in a lower overall grade than the current performance indicates.
Standards Based report cards separate academic performance from work habits and behavior in order to provide parents a more accurate view of a student’s progress in both academic and behavioral areas. Variables such as effort, participation, timeliness, cooperation, attitude, and attendance are reported separately, not as an indicator of a student’s academic performance.
How are my child’s grades determined?
A student’s performance on series of assessments (both formative and summative) will be used to determine a student’s overall grade in a course. Practice assignments (homework) are just that, practice, and thus should serve primarily as a source of feedback and instructional support for both students and teachers. Scores on practice assignments should not be used as a major component of a student’s academic grade. Teachers may require students to complete all of their practice work prior to allowing them to take, or retake, an assessment.
Will my student still receive teacher comments on assignments not graded?
Yes. Individualized feedback is an essential component of a SBG system. Effective feedback is a more useful source of information than simply assigning a numeric value or letter grade to student work.
What will each of the numbers in the 4 point scale represent?
A score of (4) would indicate that a student exceeds a standard by consistently demonstrating an advanced level of understanding and/or the ability to apply their knowledge at a higher level.
A score of (3) would indicate that a student has meet grade level expectations. The student shows an independent mastery of the standard.
A score of (2) would indicate that a student is developing an understanding of the standard, but still may be in need of additional instruction and/or support.
A score of (1) would indicate a minimal understanding of the standard. The student shows limited evidence of understanding the standard and cannot complete work related to the standard without help from their teacher.
A score of (NA or a standard without a score) would mean that the standard has not been assessed during the current grading period.
How should a student/parent view student grades now that the system of A-F has been replaced by a 4 point scale? What is considered an A in the new grading system?
You cannot really compare a traditional grading system to standards based grading. SBG identifies a standard and indicates whether or not a student is meeting the standard at a given point in the school year. A score of (3) is defined as meeting the grade level standards and indicates that a student has demonstrated mastery of the skills that were expected to be learned by that point in the grading period. In SBG, there is not an equivalent to an A, B, C, D or F. Parents should not view a score of (4) as an A and a score of (3) as a B, etc.
Is it possible to achieve a grade of 4?
Yes. However, a grade of (4) indicates performance that is consistently above what is expected for mastery at that point in the school year. Level 4 work would indicate much deeper understanding of a standard, the ability to apply that knowledge, make connections and extend learning beyond the targeted goal. Students who receive a (3) are where they need to be for that grade level. Most students will be scoring lower at the beginning of the school year and higher at the end of the school year.
If a student receives 1’s all year, does that mean the student will be retained?
If a student receives (1) and (2) scores it means his/her work is not yet meeting grade level expectations. A number of academic interventions are available for those students who are struggling to meet the established standards. Students scoring a (1) or (2) on any given standards at the beginning of the year will be assessed on those standards many times throughout the year with the eventual goal of scoring a (3).
How will I know if my child needs help?
Receiving a 1 or a 2 on a report card can be a sign that a student is in need of extra support in the areas where they received those scores. This is one of the benefits of a standard based report card, areas in need of support are clearly evident. Once again, scores usually are lower at the beginning of the year and as a student masters the academic concepts being taught in class, his/her scores will increase.
How will honor roll be determined?
The traditional concept of an Honor Roll does not easily match up with SBG. A committee of teachers will be formed to develop the criteria for academic recognition for the remaining scoring periods in the year. It is our intention to recognize and acknowledge the academic accomplishments of our elementary school students, as well as those who consistently display good citizenship/work habits.
Are all of my student’s grades standards based?
No. When you look on your child’s report card you will notice that all Specials classes are Pass or Fail.
Where else in the area is Standards Based Grading being implemented?
There are many school districts in southwest Missouri who have switched or are planning to switch to standards based grading. Our school currently uses SBG for all students up to the Fifth Grade. Next year, the Sixth Grade will move to SBG for grading purposes.