STANDARDS-BASED GRADING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW REPORT CARD?

The purpose of the Standards-based report card is to provide more detailed feedback to parents regarding the progress their children are making toward specific learning standards at their grade level. The new report card will allow parents and students to understand more clearly what is expected of students and how to help them be successful in a rigorous academic program.

WHY IS THE DISTRICT USING STANDARDS-BASED LEARNING?

The goal of Hopewell Valley School District is to improve student learning by reporting grades that are accurate, consistent, meaningful, and supportive of learning, and the shift to standards-based learning is an effort to reach that goal.

WHAT IS A TRIMESTER MARKING PERIOD?

Our new standards-based report card is based on three marking periods (December, March, and June). Teachers will use marking period grading benchmarks to evaluate student progress. Benchmarks often change each trimester to reflect new standards and expectations for student growth. These benchmarks will provide consistency between teachers and schools because teachers all will be using the same district benchmarks.

HOW DOES THE STANDARDS-BASED REPORT CARD COMPARE TO THE LETTER GRADE SYSTEM?

Letter grades measure how well students compare to their classmates. The Standards-based report card measures how well an individual student is doing in relation to their grade-level standards, not the work of other students. This will give parents a better understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses and encourage students to do their best.

HOW WILL RATINGS OF 1-3 BE DETERMINED?

Students' ability to meet the learning standards will be determined by both their oral and written work. During the first trimester, we expect students to develop and progress toward the learning standards. As the year progresses, teachers will collect evidence on how well students are meeting standards. The following are considerations for a standards-based report card grade:

  • Preponderance of evidence

  • Multiple opportunities to provide evidence

  • Frequency of demonstrated proficiency

  • Quality of evidence

WHAT ARE THE PROFICIENCY LEVELS ON THE REPORT CARD?

  • 3 - Student consistently meets grade-level standards
    The student has a proficient understanding and meets grade-level expectations. A student receiving a '3' is right on track with our high academic expectations.

  • 2 - Student exhibits progress towards grade-level standards
    The student has a basic understanding and partially meets grade-level expectations. A student receiving a '2' understands a basic concept or skill but has not yet reached the proficient level. A '2' should indicate to parents their child may need some extra help or extra time to practice/understand that concept or skill.

  • 1 - Student needs to develop skills to meet grade-level standards
    The student has minimal understanding and does not meet grade-level expectations. A student receiving a '1' has academic needs that require additional supports or interventions to stay on track with district expectations.

STANDARDS-BASED GRADING

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW REPORT CARD?

The purpose of the Standards-based report card is to provide more detailed feedback to parents regarding the progress their children are making toward specific learning standards at their grade level. The new report card will allow parents and students to understand more clearly what is expected of students and how to help them be successful in a rigorous academic program.

WHY IS THE DISTRICT USING STANDARDS-BASED LEARNING?

The goal of Hopewell Valley School District is to improve student learning by reporting grades that are accurate, consistent, meaningful, and supportive of learning, and the shift to standards-based learning is an effort to reach that goal.

WHAT IS A TRIMESTER MARKING PERIOD?

Our new standards-based report card is based on three marking periods (December, March, and June). Teachers will use marking period grading benchmarks to evaluate student progress. Benchmarks often change each trimester to reflect new standards and expectations for student growth. These benchmarks will provide consistency between teachers and schools because teachers all will be using the same district benchmarks.

HOW DOES THE STANDARDS-BASED REPORT CARD COMPARE TO THE LETTER GRADE SYSTEM?

Letter grades measure how well students compare to their classmates. The Standards-based report card measures how well an individual student is doing in relation to their grade-level standards, not the work of other students. This will give parents a better understanding of their child’s strengths and weaknesses and encourage students to do their best.

HOW WILL RATINGS OF 1-3 BE DETERMINED?

Students' ability to meet the learning standards will be determined by both their oral and written work. During the first trimester, we expect students to develop and progress toward the learning standards. As the year progresses, teachers will collect evidence on how well students are meeting standards. The following are considerations for a standards-based report card grade:

  • Preponderance of evidence

  • Multiple opportunities to provide evidence

  • Frequency of demonstrated proficiency

  • Quality of evidence

WHAT ARE THE PROFICIENCY LEVELS ON THE REPORT CARD?

  • 3 - Student consistently meets grade-level standards
    The student has a proficient understanding and meets grade-level expectations. A student receiving a '3' is right on track with our high academic expectations.

  • 2 - Student exhibits progress towards grade-level standards
    The student has a basic understanding and partially meets grade-level expectations. A student receiving a '2' understands a basic concept or skill but has not yet reached the proficient level. A '2' should indicate to parents their child may need some extra help or extra time to practice/understand that concept or skill.

  • 1 - Student needs to develop skills to meet grade-level standards
    The student has minimal understanding and does not meet grade-level expectations. A student receiving a '1' has academic needs that require additional supports or interventions to stay on track with district expectations.