1. Standards Based Report Card Parents' Evening Seekonk Public Schools October, 2010

2. SPS Elementary Report Card Committee Began meeting during the 2008-2009 school year. After researching the issue, a presentation was made to the School Committee in June, 2009 on implementing a standards-based report card - Gr. K-2 during the 2009-2010 school year - Gr. 3-5 during the 2010-2011 school year

3. 2009-2010 Committee Members Sharon Ahern, Gr. 1 Teacher Karen Capello, Gr. 2 Teacher Fran Creamer, School Committee Jane Daly, Dir. of Curr. & Inst. Denise DeCaporale, Gr. 4 Teacher Sheila Field, Parent Nancy Gagliardi, Principal Kevin Madden, Principal Linda McCaffrey, Gr. 1 Teacher Jennifer McCaughey, Parent Mary Meli, Kindergarten Teacher Jessica Mortali, Gr. 1 Teacher Mari-Ann Oliveira, Parent Denise O'Rourke, Gr. 3 Teacher Lynn Owens, Gr. 1 Teacher Candace Sarasin, Reading Spec. Shanna Vachon, Gr. 5 Teacher

4. Why Grade? What do grades mean to you? What does a 95, 85, or 75 mean?

5. What grade indicates a student has met proficiency?

8. Why do we give grades? “Traditional grading promotes a culture of gathering points, not indicating learning.” Ken O’Connor “The primary goal of grading and reporting is communication...When used well, they provide vital information to students, parents, and teachers that can be used to enhance both teaching and learning.” Thomas Guskey

9. Will all students read at grade level by the end of the school year? If not, who will not? How do we know this today? What can we do differently now to help them meet this goal?

10. Thinking Beyond an A… Demonstrate fluency in adding and subtracting whole numbers and in multiplying and dividing whole numbers by 1- and 2-digit numbers and multiples of ten. Students might be asked to evaluate a sample problem or the strategy used to solve the problem in order to get a 3 (not just get 90% of the problems correct).

11. As a result of these variances and current research, we have made the decision to move to Standards-Based Grading. Indicators = LearningTargets

12. Purposes of Standards Based Reporting Provides feedback on student progress towards what students should know or be able to do by the end of the year Helps parents understand what is expected of students at each grade level Provides students, teachers, and parents a context for discussing learning progress in the classroom (Seekonk Public Schools Elementary Report Card Committee, 2009)

13. Adapted from How to Grade for Learning,3 rd Edition (O'Connor, 2009) Which Student Would You Choose To Pack Your Parachute? Adapted from How to Grade for Learning, 3 rd Edition (O'Connor, 2009)

14. Discussion Questions For The Parachute Packing Case 1.Which student will you choose to pack your parachute? Why? 2.If these were scores in a typical teacher's grade book, which students would pass? Which students would fail?

15. Which Student Would You Choose To Pack Your Parachute? Adapted from How to Grade for Learning, 3 rd Edition (O'Connor, 2009)

16. Academic Standards Kindergarten – Grade 1 3: Meeting or exceeding the grade level standard 2: Approaching the grade level standard 1: Beginning to develop the grade level standard, but not yet able to produce grade level work N/A: Standard not assessed this trimester Grades 2 - 5 4: Exceeding the grade level standard 3: Meeting the grade level standard 2: Approaching the grade level standard 1: Beginning to develop the grade level standard, but not yet able to produce grade level work N/A: Standard not assessed this trimester

17. Standard Scoring Rubric 3: Meeting the grade level standard (The “3” is meeting the target and should be celebrated) 4: Exceeding the grade level standard (Consistently producing beyond grade-level expectations. Very few students perform at this level) 1: Beginning to develop the standard, but not yet able to produce required grade level work ( Help and support is needed from teachers and parents) 2: Approaching the grade level standard (A “2” indicates ongoing growth)

18. Sample of Report Card- Gr. 5 Math MathIIIIII Demonstrates an understanding of place value from thousandths through billions, exponents, and expanded notation. 223 Demonstrates relationships between fractions, decimals, and percents, and indicates their location on the number line. 32n/a Computes using fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators. 223 Analyzes and represents data using range, median, mode, mean, and graphs. n/a4

19. Subjects on Report Card Gr. K: Reading and Language Arts, and Math Gr. 1: Reading, Language and Composition, Math, Physical Education, Art, Music Gr. 2: Reading, Language and Composition, Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Art, Music Gr. 3-5: Reading, Language and Composition, Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Art, Music, Health

20. Student Responsibilities N Needs Improvement: The student needs to make improvement in this work or study habit. The report card will continue to grade students on progress towards meeting Student Responsibilities, i.e. work habits, study skills, behavior. P Performs Consistently: The student consistently demonstrates that work or study habit.

21. Sample of Student Responsibilities IIIIII Observes class rules.PPP Respects others.PPP Listens and is attentive.PNP Completes assigned homework. NPP Demonstrates organizational skills.N PP

22. 4 Questions that Guide Our Work What is it we want our students to know or be able to do? How will we know if they know it? How will we respond when they don’t know it? How do we enrich and extend the learning for those who already know it?

23. How will this affect your child? From: Instead of wondering how they are doing in math.... To: I need to work on my addition and subtraction facts. Students are able to take ownership of their own learning.

24. Features of the New Reporting System K-5 report cards will be issued three times a year. Interim progress reports will also be distributed in Gr. 1 – Gr. 5. Parent teacher conferences in November, 2010. Includes comment section. Uses numbers instead of letter grades to reflect students’ progress toward meeting academic standards. Progress indicated relating to the knowledge and skills a student should attain by the end of the year.

25. Parent Communication Link on the district website where information on standards based reporting will be posted. (Check for updates!) Parent workshops to explain new progress reports and report card format. (October, 2009 and 2010) Increased opportunities for more frequent information on student growth: – Parent-Teacher conferences in November – Three report cards – Interim progress reports Parent survey on new report cards to get parent feedback. (Spring, 2010)

26. Dates to Remember! 11/3 & 11/4 Gr. PreK-5 Parent Conferences 12/20/10 – 1st Trimester Report Card Issued  1/26/11 Gr. 1-5 Progress Reports Issued 3/30/11 – 2nd Trimester Report Card Issued  5/05/11 Gr. 1 -5 Progress Reports Issued Last Day of School – 3rd Trimester Rep. Card

27. Questions??? Jane L. Daly, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, 508-399-5106DalyJ@seekonk.k12.ma.usDalyJ@seekonk.k12.ma.us Nancy Gagliardi, Aitken Elementary School Principal, 508-336-5230 GagliardiN@seekonk.k12.ma.usGagliardiN@seekonk.k12.ma.us Kevin Madden, Martin Elementary School Principal, 508-336-7558 MaddenK@seekonk.k12.ma.usMaddenK@seekonk.k12.ma.us

28. Sources DuFour, R., DuFour, R., & Eaker, R. (2008). Revisiting professional learning communities at work: New insights for improving schools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree. Guskey, T. R. & Bailey, J.M. (2001). Developing grading and reporting systems for student learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. O’Connor, K. (2009). How to Grade for Learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Countless local district’s websites and Standards-Based Report Cards

29. Thank You!