APS VA Report Cards - Traditional and Alternative

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain to me why there are two different versions of report card grading for elementary schools? We have a 1st grader and I'm finding it very hard to glean any information from his report card with "Standard Based Grading". I see that it's NOT at every school. Why is that? Are they moving towards all traditional or all standards-based?

https://www.apsva.us/information-services/report-cards/

[Anonymous]

You aren’t the only one confused. There was a newsletter on this recently I read: https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=4a08d1645a&e=00c8f6f639/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=4a08d1645a&awesome=no&e=00c8f6f639#Standards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You aren’t the only one confused. There was a newsletter on this recently I read: https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=4a08d1645a&e=00c8f6f639/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=4a08d1645a&awesome=no&e=00c8f6f639#Standards

This is spot on. SBG was implemented in our old district out of state but it was 1-4 with 4 being exceptional. Is this more equity grading nonsense? How is this possibly equitable if it’s so confusing and conveys little info. Ironically, I have to rely on standardized tests now for objectivity.

[Anonymous]

Also saw this one from a parent! As an ES parent I am also confused by standards-based grading and so are my kids. My DD is convinced she’s failing because she isn’t getting M’s on everything. https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=75483630e8&e=00c8f6f639/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=75483630e8&awesome=no&e=00c8f6f639#Parentscorner

[Anonymous]

Now I’m doing a deep dive and finding other articles. This one goes into the history of standards-based grading at APS and when “exceeds” left. (I am apparently procrastinating doing my job now!) https://mailchi.mp/641aead6f0ce/arlingtonparentsforeducation-13781770?e=00c8f6f639

[Anonymous]

Because SBG is bull$h!t and a complete waste of time. I don't even read the report cards anymore. They tell you absolutely nothing.

[Anonymous]

Is SBG here to stay or is this a pilot? It seems like more work for teachers and useless for parents.

[Anonymous]

These articles are really helpful, thanks for posting. It seems like the recommendations in here would be big improvements. https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=4a08d1645a&e=00c8f6f639/?u=12119a80f9eb7a7322f4902ae&id=4a08d1645a&awesome=no&e=00c8f6f639#Standards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is SBG here to stay or is this a pilot? It seems like more work for teachers and useless for parents.

They’re trying to push it into the middle schools, so it’s here until it isn’t.

[Anonymous]

And some APE shill in here is clearly pushing their newsletter…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is SBG here to stay or is this a pilot? It seems like more work for teachers and useless for parents.

The remainder of the elementary schools will be implementing SBG next year, with the exception of ATS.

[Anonymous]

Have there been any parent surveys produced to show how parents feel about it in schools that have already implemented it? Everyone I’ve spoken too resoundingly hates it. How can they continue to roll it out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me why there are two different versions of report card grading for elementary schools? We have a 1st grader and I'm finding it very hard to glean any information from his report card with "Standard Based Grading". I see that it's NOT at every school. Why is that? Are they moving towards all traditional or all standards-based?

https://www.apsva.us/information-services/report-cards/

This is slightly misleading because Campbell, Key and Claremont (and maybe ATS but I'm not sure) actually have alternative report cards- they are specific to the school and not the same as the rest of APS' traditional report cards. Campbell's is actually sort of standards based already.

[Anonymous]

Isn't "standards-based grading" an oxymoron? You can provide a grade or you can provide an evaluation of where a kid's performance tracks relative to expectations, but there's no grade.

I don't care about grades in ES as long as it's clear how my kid is doing. But it's total BS in MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't "standards-based grading" an oxymoron? You can provide a grade or you can provide an evaluation of where a kid's performance tracks relative to expectations, but there's no grade.

I don't care about grades in ES as long as it's clear how my kid is doing. But it's total BS in MS and HS.

This is pretty much where I am. I think SBG has been implemented terribly in APS, but the early elementary report cards were already a joke, so I’m not going to lose my mind over a lack of traditional grades in 4 and 5. But no way to middle or high school. Or, at the very least, no way to the watered down APS version of SBG.