Standards Based Grading
Can we do better than alphabet soup?
Kristi Jenkins, NBCT, Somerset High School
A tradition rich high school looks at the future of grades
Somerset High School's history of academic excellence has brought the Briar Jumpers to a critical juncture as we face, along with the rest of the nation, how to prepare a new generation of learners for a world that we cannot begin to imagine.
The Common Core has revolutionized the way we approach presenting information, fostering learning, and assessing mastery. We have embraced 21st Century learning, but we are reliant on a 19th Century grade card.
What was the impetus for this research?
What do students say about their grades?
Amina Nadim, Senior
Adam Bray, Senior
Lorraine Belcher, Senior
With the prevelance of Common Core and emphasis on standards-driven curriculum, the discussion on how to best represent the mastery of standards with grades is happening across the country. There is more research on SBG in elementary and middle school than high school, but there is research out there.
SBD or A,B,C? Which means more to students? To teachers?
Ashton Litton, Junior
Cameron Claunchm, Junior
"Some grades reflect what you know, and some grades how hard you work... Most math teachers give participation grades. This is when a grade reflects how hard you work.
Most teachers give busy work wtih a book to help us find the answers. Basically, all I have to do is make sure I have the correct answers, and I get an A."
Katelyn Hardwick, Junior
"Maybe instead of grade inflation, we should call it want to succeed. I believe the reason 81% of students receive mostly A's and B's is because they know they need to put in work for college because the stress to go to college has increased tremendously."
We Need More Meaningful Indicators of Knowledge and Skills
Hurdles to Overcome
Given a copy of our grade card, the Infinite Campus grade summary report, and the grade report I created listing the standards to be marked mastered or not mastered, they discuss the complications they see in utilizing the Standards Based Grade report.
Research
Most of the research on Standards Based Grading is centered on elementary and middle schools. The most significant issue I found when looking at high schools using SBG is the use of some sort of conversion to a letter/numerical grade. I see why they have to convert standards mastery to an A, B, C, or D. I understand the need for a student to have a 2.76 or 3.9 on a transcript for scholarships and class rank, but it brings a new set of questions. If you are just indicating that 82% of the standards are mastered equals a B, what have you gained?
Kristi Jenkins
Email: Kristi.jenkins@somerset.kyschools.us
Website: www.somerset.kyschools.us
Location: Somerset High School, College Street, Somerset, KY, United States
Phone: (606) 678-4721