Transcript Standards-based Grading - Meridian Elementary School

Standards-based Grading
Why Standards-based
grading ?
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Nation-wide 30-60 % of college students need remediation.
National research shows that 50% of those students who need
remediation received As and Bs in the courses needing
remediation (3 million new students enter higher education
each year, and half take at least one catch-up course while
they are enrolled.)
45% of AD12 students need remediation in college
introductory courses
In the past thirty years the time (attending full-time and
continuously) to obtain a “4 year-degree” has increased to
five years. During the same time period high school GPAs are
up.
What is Standards Based Grading?
Standards Based Grading is grading using
student performance as the sole factor in
establishing grades.
Standards Based Grading uses the overall
trend in student performance. In other
words, we look at the most recent academic
performance of a student when establishing
a grade.
How Standards-based Grading
Differs from Traditional Grading
Because standards-based scores are based on where a student is in relation to
a standard, teachers will be looking at a student's most recent work.
Teachers will not be averaging scores across an entire semester.
For example, imagine a student learning to convert fractions to a decimalpoint format. A student may very well have some poor scores at the
beginning of that unit of study, but hopefully the student comes to
understand that concept after a couple of weeks of instruction, practice
and study.
Averaging their poor initial scores with their improved later scores doesn't
truly represent their final level of understanding. And the same is true if a
student understood the early concepts but has a difficult time with the
more complex ideas, or coasts along as the unit comes to a close.
Averages across weeks’ or months’ worth of work don't necessarily represent
a student's true, current, level of understanding at the end.
How Standards-based Grading
Differs from Traditional Grading
Another change we'll see in the standards-based system is that teachers and
students will no longer be tallying up 'points' to determine a grade.
In the past, 'points' might be earned by doing well on a test, turning in extra
credit projects, participation, or helping out in the classroom in any
number of ways. Standards-based grading
in the Five Star District will be based on a student's level of understanding in
relation to a standard.
For example, if a student helps out to clean up a classroom after school, that
good deed may get reported out as good citizenship on a report card, but
it doesn't tell us how well they understand the use of commas in a series
or how well they can apply the scientific method in various situations.
How Standards-based Grading
Differs from Traditional Grading
One other example to illustrate some of the main concepts of standardsbased grading is to take a look at learning to play an instrument.
The first day a student picks up a clarinet we wouldn’t expect him to be able
to play even an easy song. He must first learn the correct way to hold the
instrument and how to make a sound.
There will be clearly defined expectations for where we expect students to
be as their knowledge and skills progress and where they should be at the
end of the course. (In fact, that’s why a continuum of classes is called a
‘course’.
It is a path of learning, understanding and proficiency.) Learning is a
progression of knowledge, skills and abilities; and practice and re-work
are key components of the learning continuum.
What does Standards Based Grading
not include?
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Effort*
Attitude*
Timeliness*
Homework
*Each of these areas will be assessed
in the Scholarly Habits section of the Report Card
Where Do I Get More
Information?
http://www.adams12.org/student_learning/standard
s_based_grading
What questions do you have?