Standards-Based Grading
Watch the replay of Dr. Matt Townsley’s presentation on standards-based grading. During this event, District 47 families and staff had the chance to ask questions, gain insights, and deepen their understanding of how standards-based grading supports student learning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is standards-based grading?
- What are learning standards?
- Why are we transitioning to standards-based grading?
- When will standards-based grading be implemented?
- Will the switch to standards-based grading be phased in or implemented all at once?
- What is the difference between traditional grading practices and standards-based grading?
- What other changes will take place in the classroom as a result of this transition?
- If homework isn’t graded, how will my student know whether they are mastering grade-level concepts?
- Should attendance, effort and completion of homework be rewarded?
- What will be included on the new standards-aligned report card?
- How will D47 help parents understand and interpret the new report card? Where can the standards-aligned report card be viewed?
- How can we ensure students have an understanding of the standards for which they are being assessed?
- How do students and parents monitor progress and receive feedback?
- How will students learn to interpret their grades and take charge of their learning?
- How will the teachers align their assessment to avoid a subjective interpretation of student performance?
- If traditional letter grades are eliminated, how will we ensure students remain motivated to improve?
- Why switch the grading system instead of simply eliminating extra credit?
- How will honor roll and National Honor Society work with this grading system?
- How will this affect students with IEPs and 504 plans?
- How do staff share feedback and what training have they received?
- After implementation, can teachers opt for a hybrid approach to still assign homework, actually grade it, and utilize this tool to supplement for feedback? If not, why? And how would this be enforced?
- How will this affect the transition to high school?
- Will standards-based grading be implemented at the high school level?
- How many school districts in Illinois are utilizing standards-based grading?
- Are there any challenges or downsides to standards-based grading?
- Given the political climate, are there any concerns this may be canceled?
- How can families continue to provide feedback during and after implementation?
- What data can you share that shows the improvement in student academic performance or mental health as a result of this change in grading?
What is standards-based grading?
What are learning standards?
Why are we transitioning to standards-based grading?
When will standards-based grading be implemented?
Will the switch to standards-based grading be phased in or implemented all at once?
What is the difference between traditional grading practices and standards-based grading?
What other changes will take place in the classroom as a result of this transition?
If homework isn’t graded, how will my student know whether they are mastering grade-level concepts?
Should attendance, effort and completion of homework be rewarded?
What will be included on the new standards-aligned report card?
How will D47 help parents understand and interpret the new report card? Where can the standards-aligned report card be viewed?
How can we ensure students have an understanding of the standards for which they are being assessed?
How do students and parents monitor progress and receive feedback?
How will students learn to interpret their grades and take charge of their learning?
How will the teachers align their assessment to avoid a subjective interpretation of student performance?
If traditional letter grades are eliminated, how will we ensure students remain motivated to improve?
Why switch the grading system instead of simply eliminating extra credit?
How will honor roll and National Honor Society work with this grading system?
How will this affect students with IEPs and 504 plans?
How do staff share feedback and what training have they received?
After implementation, can teachers opt for a hybrid approach to still assign homework, actually grade it, and utilize this tool to supplement for feedback? If not, why? And how would this be enforced?
How will this affect the transition to high school?
Will standards-based grading be implemented at the high school level?
How many school districts in Illinois are utilizing standards-based grading?
Are there any challenges or downsides to standards-based grading?
Given the political climate, are there any concerns this may be canceled?
How can families continue to provide feedback during and after implementation?
What data can you share that shows the improvement in student academic performance or mental health as a result of this change in grading?
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