MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT STANDARDS BASED GRADING EXPECTATIONS WELCOME TO THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR! To give everyone a common understanding, here are our grading expectations. Revised 9/11/15

WHY STANDARDS BASED GRADING? TEACHING IN A STANDARDS BASED GRADING SYSTEM MUST ENSURE ALL STUDENTS GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF THE COURSE CONTENT. ALL STUDENTS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR A COURSE. LEARNING HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT RATES FOR DIFFERENT STUDENTS. REASSESSMENT IS A NECESSARY PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS.

WHY DO STUDENTS GET MORE THAN ONE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROFICIENT? THE CONSEQUENCE FOR A STUDENT NOT MEETING A STANDARD IS NOT A LOW GRADE, BUT A REQUIREMENT-OR OPPORTUNITY-TO RESUBMIT HIS/HER WORK. REAL WORLD EXAMPLES OF RETAKING EXAMS: DRIVERS LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURE FOR TEACHERS, LAWYERS, ELECTRICIANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL, DOCTORS.

LEARNING IS A PROCESS….. TO WRESTLE AT A PARTICULAR SKILL OR CONCEPT THE FIRST TIME IS FINE, EVEN NORMAL. USE THE INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS-CONSTANTLY IMPROVING OVER TIME. PRACTICE AND FEEDBACK ARE CRITICAL TO LEARNING AND RESULTS IN IMPROVEMENT.

WHAT IF I NEED TO TRY AGAIN ON AN ASSESSMENT? TEACHERS WILL REQUIRE YOU TO COMPLETE PRACTICE ITEMS (HOMEWORK, CLASSWORK, STUDY GROUP, ETC.) RELATED TO THE ASSESSMENT. STUDENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF INCREASED LEARNING AND PREPARATION FOR A REASSESSMENT.

WHAT IF I AM NOT PREPARED? DEADLINES ARE IMPORTANT. EVERY STUDENT WILL TAKE AN ASSESSMENT WHEN IT IS SCHEDULED. IF YOU DID NOT PRACTICE AND ARE NOT PREPARED- IT WILL IMPACT YOUR GRADE. TEACHERS WILL USE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO KNOW WHEN THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE READY. INSTRUCTION WILL BE ADJUSTED TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING.

Working Toward Mastery IF YOU DEMONSTRATE “MEETS”(PROFICIENT) OR HIGHER ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT (WHICH MEANS YOU PROBABLY PRACTICED), YOU CAN SCHEDULE AN ADDITIONAL ATTEMPT ONCE PER QUARTER AT A TIME DESIGNATED BY YOUR TEACHER AND STILL RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF A 5 ON THE REASSESSMENT. THE PLC HAS THE DISCRETION TO OFFER ADDITIONAL RETAKES AS LONG AS PROGRESS TOWARDS LEARNING IS EVIDENT. IF YOU ARE ABSENT DURING A SCHEDULED ASSESSMENT-IT WILL COUNT AS YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT. IF AN ABSENCE IS EXCUSED, YOU MUST MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR TEACHER TO TAKE THE ASSESSMENT. AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE COUNTS AS A FIRST ATTEMPT.

WHAT IF I AM NOT PROFICIENT ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT? IF YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT IS BELOW A “MEETS”(PROFICIENT) OR YOU HAVE AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL PRACTICE AS SPECIFIED BY THE TEACHER IN ORDER TO RETAKE. YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE PRACTICE WORK OR ASSIGNMENTS IN ORDER TO REASSESS.

WILL ALL CLASSES BE THE SAME? EACH PLC WILL DETERMINE A CONSISTENT STANDARD FOR STUDENTS- DETAILED IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS HANDED OUT TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS WILL BE WORTH ANYWHERE FROM 80%-100% OF A FINAL GRADE. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS SKILLS WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE REPORT CARD UNDER CAREER RELATED LEARNING STANDARDS. THESE CAN INCLUDE PARTICIPATION, MEETING DEADLINES, AND COMPLETING PRACTICE/HOMEWORK.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT DECIDES NOT TO PARTICIPATE? PARTICIPATION IS EXPECTED FOR LEARNING. PARTICIPATION IN CLASS ACTIVITIES AND CLASS PRACTICE (FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS) IS NECESSARY FOR TEACHERS TO SEE HOW EACH STUDENT IS DOING ON MEETING THE LEARNING TARGETS FOR A CLASS AND COUNT FOR 20% OF YOUR GRADE. PARTICIPATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, DISCUSSIONS, HOMEWORK, PROJECTS, GROUP WORK, QUIZZES AND ASSESSMENTS.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY TEACHERS? A BELIEF THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. TEACHERS WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO TURN THINGS IN ON TIME. YOU CAN AVOID CONSTANT REMINDERS IF YOU SIMPLY TURN THINGS IN ON TIME. MULTIPLE CHECK-IN’S REGARDING PROGRESS ON LEARNING. IF PROGRESS ISN’T HAPPENING-EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. PARENT CONTACT IF YOU ARE NOT MAKING PROGRESS. TEAMING OR STAFFING WITH TEACHERS, ADVISORS AND/OR ADMINISTRATORS. MANDATORY TUTORING IF YOU ARE NOT MAKING PROGRESS.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL….. PARTICIPATE IN CLASS. ASK QUESTIONS WHEN YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND. DO ANY ASSIGNED PRACTICE IMMEDIATELY. BE PREPARED TO TAKE A SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT THE FIRST TIME. REMEMBER-THE MORE YOU PRACTICE THE BETTER YOU WILL GET. IF YOU FAIL YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT-GET HELP IMMEDIATELY AND SCHEDULE A REASSESSMENT. ……TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LEARNING!