What is the bigger issue for HS: CIP or SBG?

[Anonymous]

Regardless of where you stand on the capital improvement plan or skills-based grading rollout, which is the bigger issue for FCPS?

I personally believe that SBG is a far bigger issue. I am not necessarily an opposed to the concept but I’m not happy at the way it has been implemented at the schools (eg, Madison, …) so far.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t next year supposed to be regular grading???

[Anonymous]

From the newsletter back in August. 2023:

In the 2024-25 school year, all grades will be on a 100-point scale, with 50% as the minimum grade for submitted assignments. All high school credit-bearing classes will use the new scale next school year.

[Anonymous]

How can SBG work with a 100% scale??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can SBG work with a 100% scale??

Easily. An A = 100, a B = 86 or 84, a C = 76. So if you answer all questions correctly, you get 100. If you miss one, you get 86, etc.

IOW, most grades will be a B with some Cs and a few As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of where you stand on the capital improvement plan or skills-based grading rollout, which is the bigger issue for FCPS?

I personally believe that SBG is a far bigger issue. I am not necessarily an opposed to the concept but I’m not happy at the way it has been implemented at the schools (eg, Madison, …) so far.

The bigger issue for FCPS will always be the CIP because it has much larger financial implications.

Parents and students, on the other hand, may care more about grading policies at their school than where it stands in the renovation queue. Colleges look at grades, not at whether your high school has the nicest auditorium.

[Anonymous]

We are at a SBG middle school and it's AWFUL! They use the 100 point scale and convert from the 4 point scale, like a previous poster showed. It makes it very hard to get an A and very hard to get below a C. Seems like the goal is to even the grades between everyone.

As an example, I've actually heard multiple teachers of core subjects say "it doesn't matter if the student got all the questions on the quiz right. If I think they don't quite understand the skill yet, it's a "3", i.e. a B"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at a SBG middle school and it's AWFUL! They use the 100 point scale and convert from the 4 point scale, like a previous poster showed. It makes it very hard to get an A and very hard to get below a C. Seems like the goal is to even the grades between everyone.

As an example, I've actually heard multiple teachers of core subjects say "it doesn't matter if the student got all the questions on the quiz right. If I think they don't quite understand the skill yet, it's a "3", i.e. a B"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can SBG work with a 100% scale??

Easily. An A = 100, a B = 86 or 84, a C = 76. So if you answer all questions correctly, you get 100. If you miss one, you get 86, etc.

IOW, most grades will be a B with some Cs and a few As.

This is why SBG is the far bigger issue. As implanted in FCPS it will bring about a grading outcome that will close the “achievement” or “outcome” gap by creating “equity” in the sense that most kids are right in the middle.

Since college admissions are primarily based on how you compare with others in your same school, those applying to VA universities will not suffer greatly, especially since instate AOs will pick up on this rather quickly. For those looking at top 20s and OOS flagships well that won’t go so well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can SBG work with a 100% scale??

Easily. An A = 100, a B = 86 or 84, a C = 76. So if you answer all questions correctly, you get 100. If you miss one, you get 86, etc.

IOW, most grades will be a B with some Cs and a few As.

What if you get a 95 though?

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised most parents aren’t speaking out about this OP. Has there been any discussion besides on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can SBG work with a 100% scale??

Easily. An A = 100, a B = 86 or 84, a C = 76. So if you answer all questions correctly, you get 100. If you miss one, you get 86, etc.

IOW, most grades will be a B with some Cs and a few As.

This is why SBG is the far bigger issue. As implanted in FCPS it will bring about a grading outcome that will close the “achievement” or “outcome” gap by creating “equity” in the sense that most kids are right in the middle.

Since college admissions are primarily based on how you compare with others in your same school, those applying to VA universities will not suffer greatly, especially since instate AOs will pick up on this rather quickly. For those looking at top 20s and OOS flagships well that won’t go so well.

The HS that use it now are at a complete disadvantage when compared to other FCPS high schools. Combined with a rolling grade book, students on either end of the spectrum are becoming more disillusioned with school and grades. Like none of it matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can SBG work with a 100% scale??

Easily. An A = 100, a B = 86 or 84, a C = 76. So if you answer all questions correctly, you get 100. If you miss one, you get 86, etc.

IOW, most grades will be a B with some Cs and a few As.

What if you get a 95 though?

It's not an A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised most parents aren’t speaking out about this OP. Has there been any discussion besides on DCUM?

OP here: FCPS ran a focus group about grading. The facilitators asked about x, y, z about grading in FCPS and most of the parents were like, OK, but that's not how things are implemented at our school. Parents were not pleased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised most parents aren’t speaking out about this OP. Has there been any discussion besides on DCUM?

OP here: FCPS ran a focus group about grading. The facilitators asked about x, y, z about grading in FCPS and most of the parents were like, OK, but that's not how things are implemented at our school. Parents were not pleased.

The old bait and switch play is being used by the administration. They tell parents it is great, wow them with fancy and confusing PowerPoints and then implement SBG in a totally different way than it was designed and described in their presentations to parents. The plan is working great so far and once they have a critical mass of schools using SBG it will be too late for everyone.