STANDARDS BASED LEARNING
What is Standards-Based Grading?
Standards-based grading communicates how students perform 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, as opposed to simply averaging grades/scores over the course of the grading period, which can mask what a student has learned or not learned. This is a true learning-focused system.
Why Standards-Based Grading?
Standards-based grading reports on what students should know and be able to do within each content area at each grade level. The real-time monitoring of student performance reflects a more accurate picture of student achievement.
It can benefit all learners - students who struggle and students whose learning is accelerated. Students’ progress towards standards can assist staff in determining intervention or enrichment opportunities.
How does Standards-Based differ from Traditional Grading?
A standards-based grading system measures a student’s mastery of grade-level standards by prioritizing the most recent, consistent level of performance.
In traditional grading systems, a student’s performance for an entire quarter is averaged together.
Standards-based report cards also separate academic performance from work habits/behavior in order to provide parents a more accurate view of a student’s progress in both areas.
Effort, participation, cooperation, and attendance are reported separately, not as a part of academic performance.
How is my student’s grade determined?
Click on the link for a good explanation.
Standards Based Grading Explanation
A student’s performance on a series of assessments will be used to determine overall mastery, much as it has in the past.
The difference will be reporting of mastery levels indicated by a number scale instead of letters (“3” instead of B”).
Levels of achievement will be clearly defined using standards-based scoring guides. Practice assignments and homework will serve primarily as a source of feedback and instructional support for both students and teachers rather than “grades.”
This is a new system and as such, we’ll be monitoring for effectiveness to meet the needs of all Lorenzo R. Smith Elementary students.
If you have any questions, please, give me a call at the school or if email is easier Superintendent@pembroke.k12.il.us.
Thank you so much for your support,
Dr. Nicole Terrell-Smith, Superintendent