Standards Based Grading Conversations Continue in District 279

The conversation about the first year of Standards Based Grading in the Osseo School District moved into a school board work session last Thursday. A meeting that included time for District 279 staff and community members to comment about the new grading structure.

The implemented its first year of Standards Based Grading in District 279 during the 2011-2012 school year.

In the past, student grading might have included a mixture of academic and nonacademic achievement. With Standards Based Grading, the grading focuses heavily on academic achievement only. Nonacademic issues are included on separate reporting tools.

, Superintendent Kate Maguire spoke about “concerns expressed by community members” about the district’s shift in grading practices.  As a result, the board decided to have a work session about Standards Based Grading – including time audience opportunity to address the board.

The purpose of the May 17 work session, according to the agenda, was for board members to “understand the current status of Standards Based Grading implementation” to “learn about implementation progress and challenges from multiple perspectives” and to “understand next steps.”

During the beginning of the work session, the board heard from District 279 leadership about the Standards Based Grading implementation plan, training and support. About seven staff members were asked to talk about how the implementation has been going, most of which were supportive of the new grading system.

“I do have fewer A’s, but I feel like those A’s are earned,” one staff member said. Another staff member commented the new grading system allow him to reach more students and to “collaborate more effectively” with other teachers.

Approximately 10 parents, some of which were employees of the district, also spoke during the four hour school board work session. Most said they weren’t against Standards Based Grading, but expressed concerns about implementation and consistency.

“I think the one to four scale is flawed,” one parent of elementary aged students said of the numeric grading structure. “Four seems very unobtainable.”   She stated she wasn’t against Standards Based Grading, but “disappointed with rapid speed” of implementation. The parent talked a and comments stating, “a lot of comments resonated to what I was feeling.”

Several parents pointed to the speed and roll out of the Standards Based Grading, one stating implementation was “subpar.”

Parents at the elementary and secondary level talked about the impact Standards Based Grading has had on their children and other students, most of the discussion centered on the district’s secondary students.

“Students are saying 100 percent isn’t good enough, so why bother?” one parent commented.

After listening to community feedback, several school board members thanked parents for sharing input during the listening session. Director Kim Green said she was “really grateful” community members took the time to talk, stating she thought they raised some “valid points.”

Near the end of the work session, Directors Laura Cottington and Teresa Lunt talked about considering rolling out Standards Based Grading to the elementary first.

“We need to have the foundation in place to build the house,” Lunt said.

What’s next?

Assistant Superintendent Keith Jacobus addressed several avenues staff will explore in relation to Standards Based Grading, such as determining where issues are surfacing and inviting teachers and parents to continue to provide input. Don Pascoe, Osseo’s director of research, assessment and accountability, talked about continuing to “clarify the process” as well as monitor and work with individual teachers.

“We’ve tried to adjust already from what we’ve heard,” Jacobus said.