We believe that teachers and schools need to stop basing students’ grades on non-academic factors like attendance, teacher expectations, student conduct, and effort. The best grading practices should only assess students’ academic performance and proficiency like that of a standards-based grading system. Some of the benefits of a standards-based grading system are
1. Students are evaluated on how well they are progressing towards the learning objectives based on academic standards.
2. Only summative assessments like tests and portfolios are used to assess students’ mastery of course materials and assigned grades not formative assessment like homework, though they can be used to provide feedback to students and guide teacher instruction.
3. Students are able to redo their assessments until they reach mastery.
4. Teachers use rubrics that define the specific learning criteria students will need to demonstrate the highest levels of mastery.
5. Students are not evaluated on non-academic factors.
Instead, students are given specific and timely feedback on what they need to do to meet the learning objectives. If student conduct and character are evaluated, it is done so outside of their academic performance in character recognition ceremonies or similar. But even these will grow out of the ethics, self-determination, and identity development courses we offer at The ReImagine Schools. The criteria for demonstrating mastery in these areas will be based on the learning objectives of those courses.
Students will not receive zeroes on assignments for non-academic factors, such as misbehavior, which can adversely impact and distort their grades. If a student turns in their assignment late or not at all, he or she will receive an incomplete and have to attend mandatory work sessions after school or on Saturdays. Students who have not mastered the material will not be given zeroes. They will receive incompletes and be required to attend mandatory work sessions. There is no exception to this policy. The aim is for students to demonstrate mastery of the learning objectives, so they will not be excused from doing so. If parents object to this requirement, they should enroll their student elsewhere.
Letter grades will be used, so transcripts and report cards still appear the same, but the grades refer to students’ progression toward proficiency of content standards and benchmarks. For example, a student with an “A” demonstrates a thorough understanding of the grade level content standard and the benchmarks. A student with a “C” demonstrates understanding and application of most of the standards and benchmarks but may need re-teaching and teacher support to demonstrate mastery.
Please check with the teacher first if you have questions about grades and assignments. If you have a question about transcripts or academic records, please contact the school guidance counselor.