As Flossmoor School District 161 teachers and staff get ready to welcome students back to classrooms, administrators are also preparing parents for changes in how teachers calculate grades.
This year, the district will transition from letter grades to a standards-based grading system(SBG), a significant shift in student performance evaluation and reporting.
The district’s board of education and administrators believe that the changes will communicate grades that are “consistent, specific, accurate, and timely.” The new grading system is expected to help students and parents better understand academic progress.
Traditional grading often relies on academic and non-academic factors, and standards-based grading focuses solely on learning standards established by the state. These state standards set expectations that outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. SBG separates academic performance from behavior and effort to provide a more precise measurement of a student’s academic abilities.
“This summer, our teachers have worked really hard to make sure that they were organized, and prioritized setting students up for success,” said Amabel Crawford, director of Learning and Instruction.
Under this new system, report cards will offer a snapshot of students’ current proficiency in meeting grade-level standards. Rather than receiving letter grades, students will earn scores on a four-point scale.
A four will mean that the student demonstrates in-depth knowledge that goes beyond the learning standard. A three will mean that the student consistently demonstrates the ability to meet the standard. A two will indicate that the student can independently demonstrate some skills necessary to reach the standard. A grade of one will tell parents and students that the student does not independently demonstrate an ability to reach the standard.
Under the new grading system, students will still be recognized for high marks. Consistently earning threes and fours will qualify students for the honor roll and the National Honor Society.
The district’s decision to adopt SBG is rooted in its belief that traditional grades are often imprecise and fail to communicate the specific skills students need to succeed at their current grade level. By focusing on mastery of specific standards, the new report cards will more accurately reflect a student’s academic achievements based on evidence collected by teachers.
One of the most notable differences in the SBG system is the separation of academic performance from behaviors. This distinction ensures that grades reflect a student’s understanding of content without being influenced by factors such as classroom discipline or participation. Behaviors will be reported separately.
“The communication aspect of the standards-based reporting process is really important,” said Superintendent Dana Smith. “We want to make sure that our families have all the information necessary to help their children find success.”
School administrators have provided several resources to support this transition, including a letter sent to parents in May, a frequently asked questions document, and a Zoom webinar. The district is creating these resources to help families understand the new grading system.
Crawford said that additional webinars will be created throughout the school year, “especially as we get closer to the first report cards at the end of the first quarter.”
Most District 161 students were prepared for these changes last year as teachers and administrators began to implement “high-impact assessment” programs outlined by Marzano Resources.
District 161 students begin school on Aug. 15. The annual Back to School Birthday Bash event in Flossmoor Park will be held on Aug. 16. This time, the event is expected to be short and simple, without a movie like in years past.