Board of Education Presentation February 8, 2011 Dr. Mary Cooksley Director, Curriculum and Instruction

Grade Level Benchmark – Based Grading and Reporting

Board of Education PresentationFebruary 8, 2011

Dr. Mary CooksleyDirector, Curriculum and Instruction

What is a Grade Level Benchmark?

A Grade Level Benchmark describes what a student should know and be able to demonstrate in each content area at each grade level.

All GLB’s and Components are available at:http://www.oskaloosa.k12.ia.usGo to: Curriculum and Instruction Go to: Curriculum Development

http://www.oskaloosa.k12.ia.us/


All core areas and encore areas will have GLB’s after 2011-2012 school year. Those with GLB’s now are: Social Studies, Foreign Language, FCS, IT, AG, & Business.




Those working on GLB’s this year include: Math, Science, Language Arts, Physical Education and Art.

Instrumental and Vocal Music will be completed next school year.




Grade Level Benchmarks align the curriculum from one grade to the next so teachers know what instruction is taking place at each grade within a content area.




Example:Grade Level Benchmark or GLB4th Grade Social Studies

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to utilize components of maps/globes.

How do we currently grade and report academic performance?

An overall grade is given for the course, not for individual content or skills.

ExampleSocial Studies = B

How will we report out in the future?• An overall grade will be given for the course in grades 3-12• A grade for each Grade Level Benchmark will be given for

grades PK – 12 • A Work Habits grade will be given for grades PK – 12.

Example: 4th Grade

GLB #1 Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to utilize components of maps/globes. = 3

Overall Grade for Social Studies = B

Work Habits Participation = 2

What subjects will report out next year?

Why Change?

Reporting out by Grade Level Benchmark gives families information describing how well a student is performing based on a specific piece of content or skill.

Why Change?

Families will be provided more information about:

• What students are expected to learn• Strengths and weaknesses specific to each

subject• Work Habit behaviors important to learning

Why Change?

Performance on Grade Level Benchmarks has direct impact on students learning what they need to know to be successful at the next grade level.

Why Change?

Methods used to report and grade vary widely currently from one teacher to another, even among those who teach at the same grade level within the same school.

Will students still get a letter grade?

Yes – Grades 3-12 will still use letter grades

Letter grades will be given and Grade Point Average (GPA) will be maintained.

Grades will be based on academic performance related to the Grade Level Benchmarks

Are others doing this?

Yes

With the adoption of the Common Core/Iowa Core, many schools are moving toward reporting out by “Standards”

Some Iowa schools include:

Ankeny, Norwalk, Johnston, College Community, Fort Dodge, Fairfield, Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Burlington,

Marshalltown, Mt. Pleasant, Wapsie Valley, Webster City,

Ballard, etc.

How will overall academic performance be reported?

Letter Grade Percentage

A 94% - 100%

A- 90% - 93%

B+ 87% - 89%

B 84% - 86%

B- 80% - 83%

C+ 77% - 79%

C 74% - 76%

C- 70% - 73%

D+ 67% - 69%

D 64% - 66%

D- 60% - 63%

F 59% and Below

How will academic performance on Grade Level Benchmarks be reported?

Code Meaning

4 Exceeds Expectations

3 Meets Expectations

2 Progressing Toward

Expectations

1 Does Not Meet

Expectations

N/A Not Assessed Yet

I Incomplete

How will academic performance on Grade Level Benchmarks be reported?

How will Work Habits be reported?

Work Habits are behaviors that support the learning process

How will Work Habits be reported?

How will homework be included in the report card?

Homework will count for no more than 25% of the overall grade

What students learn by doing homework will be reported as Academic Performance

District philosophy about homework/student work

Homework is defined as:Work completed overnight used for practice on a skill/concept

• Students should be able to do the work independently• Teachers will assign work directly related to the curriculum• Teachers will keep assigned work brief• Homework will count for no more than 25% of the overall grade/GLB

District policy on homework/student work

• Teachers will collaboratively determine grading policy

• Teachers will communicate grading policy at beginning of school year or at the start of each trimester

Grade 4

Social Studies

Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3

GLB 1 3

GLB 2 2

GLB 3 3

Overall Grade/Performance

B- C+ B+

Comments: Keep up the good work

Too social Great work on project!

Work HabitsParticipation 3 2 3

How will teachers be supported?

Professional Development includes:

• Grade book pilot in late winter/spring• On-going DLT and BLT building communication• Train-the-trainer session grade book pre-service• 1st Trimester review of grade book

• This is a process and not an event – we will strive to make our curriculum, instruction, and assessment as consistent as possible

How will information be shared?

The Communication Plan Includes:

• Informational sessions – PAC, PTO, DAC, BOE• Articles in local newspaper• District website• Information at registration• Kindergarten Round-up• Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences information • Parent Portal• E-mail• Meet the Teacher Night in the Fall

Rolling it out• Grade Level Benchmark reporting is scheduled for the 2011 –

2012 school year

• Not all areas will report out the first year

• A Grading and Reporting Guideline Book will be available to parents

• A Complete list of Grade Level Benchmarks and Components will be available and on-line access provided

• This is a process and not an event – we will strive to make our curriculum, instruction, and assessment as consistent as possible

Questions?

Documents

Board of Education Presentation February 8, 2011 Dr. Mary Cooksley Director, Curriculum and Instruction