Skills-Based Grading

[Anonymous]

My high-schooler is in a math class with skills-based grading. The way this pilot program was explained during the open house was that students would have multiple chances at re-assessment and the purpose seemed to be to give kids more chances to master the material. In practice, it seems far more stressful on the students than the regular grading system because they've eliminated all A-, B+ grades and each question receives its own individual grade of A, B, C etc. No partial credit is given, so any mistake automatically results in a B. My child with an A- currently appears to have little chance of raising the grade to an A with half the class left, so is a bit frustrated despite doing pretty well on the exams. Perfect on most of them and with minor mistakes on the others (which seemed like they would have merited an A- or B+ under the previous grading system. So my question is--was this really a way to help tackle grade inflation more than giving kids the chance to demonstrate mastery? I don't plan on saying anything to the teacher or school, I'm just internally questioning why this change was made, especially since it is coming for all classes next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My high-schooler is in a math class with skills-based grading. The way this pilot program was explained during the open house was that students would have multiple chances at re-assessment and the purpose seemed to be to give kids more chances to master the material. In practice, it seems far more stressful on the students than the regular grading system because they've eliminated all A-, B+ grades and each question receives its own individual grade of A, B, C etc. No partial credit is given, so any mistake automatically results in a B. My child with an A- currently appears to have little chance of raising the grade to an A with half the class left, so is a bit frustrated despite doing pretty well on the exams. Perfect on most of them and with minor mistakes on the others (which seemed like they would have merited an A- or B+ under the previous grading system. So my question is--was this really a way to help tackle grade inflation more than giving kids the chance to demonstrate mastery? I don't plan on saying anything to the teacher or school, I'm just internally questioning why this change was made, especially since it is coming for all classes next year.

The SB and many schools see this as a more equitable approach. In other words, equity.

[Anonymous]

Usually called “standards based grading”, and no, it isn’t supposed to combat inflation, it’s supposed to give students a clearer picture of what they know/where they need help so they can better focus their efforts.

The issue is it takes 7593735392x as much organization on the part of the teacher to do it well, and if it’s only halfway implemented (so that unlimited retakes don’t materialize) it is hard to see the benefits of it.

Personally, as a high school math teacher I’m dreading this mandate coming down the pipeline because the logistics are a total nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high-schooler is in a math class with skills-based grading. The way this pilot program was explained during the open house was that students would have multiple chances at re-assessment and the purpose seemed to be to give kids more chances to master the material. In practice, it seems far more stressful on the students than the regular grading system because they've eliminated all A-, B+ grades and each question receives its own individual grade of A, B, C etc. No partial credit is given, so any mistake automatically results in a B. My child with an A- currently appears to have little chance of raising the grade to an A with half the class left, so is a bit frustrated despite doing pretty well on the exams. Perfect on most of them and with minor mistakes on the others (which seemed like they would have merited an A- or B+ under the previous grading system. So my question is--was this really a way to help tackle grade inflation more than giving kids the chance to demonstrate mastery? I don't plan on saying anything to the teacher or school, I'm just internally questioning why this change was made, especially since it is coming for all classes next year.

The SB and many schools see this as a more equitable approach. In other words, equity.

It sucks. Sorry for you but I’m glad other schools in the district are doing it. Ours has done it for a few years. At least this makes it fairer if all the kids are punished by it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback! Hard for me to see how it will make things more equitable when it requires way more work for the teacher and requires a super-motivated kid. Luckily my kid is pretty motivated so is hanging in there, but I can see problems with my other child down the road if this really does take hold.

[Anonymous]

My MS kid has this for math class. He has a 3.0, which is supposed to be good, but it's still only a B. Did we misunderstand when the teacher said that a 3 is good and a 4 is exceptional? Does it matter that this is a totally different scoring system, for purposes of GPA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually called “standards based grading”, and no, it isn’t supposed to combat inflation, it’s supposed to give students a clearer picture of what they know/where they need help so they can better focus their efforts.

The issue is it takes 7593735392x as much organization on the part of the teacher to do it well, and if it’s only halfway implemented (so that unlimited retakes don’t materialize) it is hard to see the benefits of it.

Personally, as a high school math teacher I’m dreading this mandate coming down the pipeline because the logistics are a total nightmare.

Standards based is actually different than skills based. Standards are tied to specific content students should master and skills based is more performance based. For instance, in science, it might be graphing, concept explanation, calculations, predicting outcomes, scientific design. All skills can be assed through the lens of different content.

I too have heard that either standards or skills based grading is coming (I have heard both). Some schools are having success with it at the high school level but it is an enormous amount of work for teachers to re-work every type of assessment they have ever given-it will be like starting from scratch.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand it at all. My son had it in most of his classes and grades are entered as 4.0. 3.0. 2.0. 1.0 or O. Sometimes little mistakes result in an A or 4.0. Sometimes a B 3.0. He just took made up a test from when he was absent and had quite a bit of errors, but still a lot correct and the grade was F and that gets entered as a 0, the same as before when it was missing. It seems very subjective.

[Anonymous]

My grading was like this back in the 90s for middle school. It was a 4.0 scale. It was horrible. If you got one thing wrong, you would get a 3.5 most of the time (which is a B+).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high-schooler is in a math class with skills-based grading. The way this pilot program was explained during the open house was that students would have multiple chances at re-assessment and the purpose seemed to be to give kids more chances to master the material. In practice, it seems far more stressful on the students than the regular grading system because they've eliminated all A-, B+ grades and each question receives its own individual grade of A, B, C etc. No partial credit is given, so any mistake automatically results in a B. My child with an A- currently appears to have little chance of raising the grade to an A with half the class left, so is a bit frustrated despite doing pretty well on the exams. Perfect on most of them and with minor mistakes on the others (which seemed like they would have merited an A- or B+ under the previous grading system. So my question is--was this really a way to help tackle grade inflation more than giving kids the chance to demonstrate mastery? I don't plan on saying anything to the teacher or school, I'm just internally questioning why this change was made, especially since it is coming for all classes next year.

The SB and many schools see this as a more equitable approach. In other words, equity.

Our school is in the process of implementing skills-based grading as well. My child hates it - states that it has left him feeling unmotivated and even a bit depressed. As my child is a senior, he is just glad to be getting out because he states that FCPS gets worse every year. I'm worried because my other kid starts 9th grade next year and will not do well in a system that does not grade homework. He just won't do it. My understanding of skills based learning is that only 3 grades are on the books, with a rolling replacement throughout the year, and only tests count as grades.

It seems FCPS is constantly trying out gimmicks and implementing something new that has nothing to do with improving academics. I'm really fed up. We were at a private that didn't do this crap, but I shouldn't have to pay 45k for a basic education. I know that I should put my younger kid into private next year, but along with the financial aspect, it would break his heart to leave his friends.

I did reach out to the principal to see if they were going to go forward with this and the answer is yes. Interestingly, this school surveys kids all the time (don't know if it's just FCPS surveys or school created), but there is no interest in surveying parents, kids and teachers about the skills-based grading. It's full steam ahead, until the next "great idea" comes along. I'm venting here, but I don't know what to do. I've thought about complaining to the school board, reaching out to other parents to try to get a small vocal group to push back, I just don't know what to do.

[Anonymous]

I don't plan on saying anything to the teacher or school, I'm just internally questioning why this change was made, especially since it is coming for all classes next year.

Why don't you plan on saying anything? My kids teachers have asked them to talk to their parents and get them to speak up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually called “standards based grading”, and no, it isn’t supposed to combat inflation, it’s supposed to give students a clearer picture of what they know/where they need help so they can better focus their efforts.

The issue is it takes 7593735392x as much organization on the part of the teacher to do it well, and if it’s only halfway implemented (so that unlimited retakes don’t materialize) it is hard to see the benefits of it.

Personally, as a high school math teacher I’m dreading this mandate coming down the pipeline because the logistics are a total nightmare.

I’m dreading it as an English teacher. I may need to consider moving to another district…

[Anonymous]

Gatehouse and school based administrators need need to stop doing system overhauls. It’s too stressful for teachers, parents, and students.

[Anonymous]

There was a school board work session in the fall where the board was told that a group of school administrators is studying grading policy and will recommend changes later this year. It was so vague - why are they doing this? What is it based on? What is skills based and what is standards based? I am going to pay attention to see what the group recommends and hopefully they will share their research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a school board work session in the fall where the board was told that a group of school administrators is studying grading policy and will recommend changes later this year. It was so vague - why are they doing this? What is it based on? What is skills based and what is standards based? I am going to pay attention to see what the group recommends and hopefully they will share their research.

They need to fire these people or put them in a classroom so they can do real work. They are only wasting time and accelerating the teacher exodus with their policy overhauls.