Here at Doss High School, we utilize an innovative approach to assessing student learning: standards-based grading (SBG). This system ensures that grades more accurately reflect what your child knows and can do, focusing on their growth and mastery of essential skills and knowledge. Here's what you need to know about SBG and how it benefits your child’s education.
What is Standards-Based Grading?
Standards-based grading measures your child’s progress in mastering specific learning standards, which are clear expectations for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Instead of averaging scores over a period of time, SBG provides detailed feedback on how well your child is meeting those expectations.
Key Features of Standards-Based Grading
1. Focus on Mastery:
SBG emphasizes your child’s learning journey. A grade reflects where they are on the path to mastering a standard, not just their performance on isolated assignments or tests.
2. Clarity in Reporting:
Reports include clear descriptions of what your child has mastered and what requires improvement. This helps you understand their learning in greater detail.
3. Separate Academic Achievement from Behavior:
SBG separates academic skills from behaviors like effort, participation, or attendance. This ensures grades are a pure reflection of learning. Behavioral aspects may be reported separately.
4. Multiple Opportunities to Demonstrate Learning:
Learning is a process. SBG allows students to improve their understanding and demonstrate mastery over time, rather than being penalized for early struggles.
How Grades are Reported
In an SBG system, traditional letter grades (A, B, C) are replaced with descriptors such as:
4 (Consistently Meets or Exceeds Standards): Demonstrates deep understanding and applies knowledge in advanced ways.
3 (Meets Standards): Consistently meets the standard.
2 (Approaching Standards): Partially meets the standard; still developing skills.
1 (Below Standards): Does not yet demonstrate understanding; requires significant help.
0 (Substantially Below Standards OR Insufficient Evidence): Does not yet demonstrate understanding; blank or incomplete.
This scale helps provide a more precise picture of where your child stands.
Benefits of Standards-Based Grading
1. Encourages Growth:
SBG motivates students to improve by emphasizing progress rather than perfection.
2. Provides Specific Feedback:
Instead of vague grades, parents and students receive detailed information about what’s going well and what needs attention.
3. Promotes Equity:
All students are evaluated based on the same clear and consistent standards, leveling the playing field.
4. Prepares Students for the Future:
SBG encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance—skills essential for college, careers, and life.
How You Can Support Your Child
Review Progress Reports: Take time to understand the specific standards and how your child is performing.
Celebrate Growth: Focus on improvement and the effort your child is putting into learning.
Communicate with Teachers: Partner with your child’s teachers to discuss progress and strategies for success.
Encourage a Growth Mindset: Remind your child that learning takes time and that mistakes are opportunities to grow.
Standards-based grading is designed to empower students, parents, and teachers with a clearer understanding of learning. By focusing on mastery, we can better support each child’s unique educational journey. To empower students, the Meeting All The Standards (MATS) Protocol was created for students to reflect on their learning and provide the teacher evidence of their level of Mastery of each Standard. Linked below is a video description of the MATS Protocol and how it connects to Standards Based Grading (SBG) and the JCPS Journey to Success Milestones and Defenses of Learning.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q9ZZzpsi3x2lyzZlsopP4G9ZGK1xZnmE/view?usp=sharing
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Kelli Stein, Instructional Assistant Principal.