U-46 guide for secondary grading.
"At all U-46 middle and high schools, we use fair and equitable grading practices that are based on student achievement and aligned to state and national standards. These common grading practices, which should be consistent across U-46 schools, are intended to demonstrate that students have the knowledge and skills necessary for the next level of a course, the next grade, and are prepared for college and the workforce. Standardized grading practices provide a clearer picture to students and families as to what grading criteria are used, and the district's expectations of student learning and achievement."
-- message from the U-46 Teaching and Learning Department
SEVEN GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SECONDARY GRADING guide the work at U-46. The principles include:
1. Grades should reflect proficiency on well0defined standards-based learning targets that are clear to all stakeholders.
2. Grades should be based on academic performance using formative and summative assessments.
3. Grade scales should be devised to give equal incremental value to each letter grade.
4. Students should be expected to complete work for credit.
5. Students should be given multiple ways to demonstrate their knowledge.
6. Feedback should be timely, specific, and related to learning targets.
7. Students should be given multiple opportunities to reach proficiency on specific, standards-based concepts and skills.
CHANGES FOR THE 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR: what students and parents need to know.
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Progress reports and report cards will continue to reflect letter grades. Points will be converted to a grade at the end of each grading period.
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The +/- will be eliminated from all final grades.
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The 0-100 scale (points) will be replaced by the 0-4 scale (marks).
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Teachers will use a mark of 0-4 for each assignment entered in the grade book/Infinite Campus (See explanation below.).
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Teachers will have the option to use Marks or Standards-Based Grading (SBG). Teachers will notify parents via course syllabus. Students will need to demonstrate evidence of their learning to reach proficiency.
GRADING SCALE
All graded assignments, projects, and assessments will provide students with opportunities to demonstrate basic, proficient, and mastery levels of learning to ensure that students can reach the highest possible level of achievement.
4 (A) -- MASTERY
3 (B) -- PROFICIENT
2 (C) -- BASIC
1 (D) -- BELOW BASIC
0 (E) -- NO EVIDENCE
MASTERY -- Tasks or the target of instruction allow students to apply their knowledge and skills to new or related situations or scenarios. A mark of 4 indicates not only evidence of application and analysis, but also includes synthesis and evaluation.
PROFICIENT -- Tasks or the target of instruction consist of complex knowledge, skills, application, and analysis.
BASIC -- Tasks are basic recall and simple skills which include knowledge and comprehension.
BELOW BASIC -- There is some evidence of emerging simple skills, gaps in knowledge, and unreliable comprehension skills.
NO EVIDENCE -- There is no evidence of learning, including missing work and incomplete work.
For additional information, please visit www.u-46.org and click on:
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Departments and Programs
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Teaching and Learning
** Information contained on this page is excerpted from the U-46 Parent Grading Guide for Middle and High School Students.