First Grade Report Cards Change

Dorchester County School District Two Assistant Superintendent Glenn Huggins had attendees of Monday's regular school board meeting close their eyes and imagine being a parent of a first-grader. 

The child comes home, excited, and runs to you with his first report card. 

But, there is a C next to reading.

How do you know how to help your child? What does a "C" mean?

The new report cards being piloted by Dorchester Two's first-grade classes will alleviate parent confusion and help "pinpoint" the problem, according to Huggins.

Instead of an A through F system for each subject matter, the new system rates E, M, P and I — Excellent, Met, Progressing Toward and Improvement Needed — and breaks down specifics within each subject.

For example, a child may get an E correctly spelling high frequency words in daily writing, but a P in using correct punctuation and capitalization in the Developing and Producing Written Communication subject. (A sample card is attached to this story.)

If that sounds complicated, don't worry. Dorchester Two teachers will explain the new cards during the parent-teacher conferences in October as the first reports come out. 

Huggins called the new report cards "a health check for where we are," likening it to a state inspection of a vehicle. 

While the new system was voted in unanimously, board Chair Frances Townsend expressed concern over the tedious nature.

"My first reaction is that its a massive amount of work on the part of the teacher," she said.

Berkeley County's school district and the state of Georgia have already implemented the reporting system. Board member Barbara Crosby, who is a teacher in Berkeley County, commended the system.

"You can't average little people's grades," Crosby said.