above grade level reading and math but still a P

[Anonymous]

I wish there was a comments section that provided more detail per subject. DC got an ES in opinion writing but an I in Procedures Product of writing. Its too opaque

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol. So now we all will flock to get our kids take SCAT and SSAT and other tests privately, just so we can figure out how they stand as compared to self selected achievers.

Well done, MCPS.

I am not going to flock anywhere. I don't need to compare my child to anyone else's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol. So now we all will flock to get our kids take SCAT and SSAT and other tests privately, just so we can figure out how they stand as compared to self selected achievers.

Well done, MCPS.

If you're flocking to pay money for so that your elementary school kids can take private tests, I don't understand why that would be the fault of MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish there was a comments section that provided more detail per subject. DC got an ES in opinion writing but an I in Procedures Product of writing. Its too opaque

Would a letter grade (or an O/S/I) for Reading (all aspects, combined) be more transparent? That's what the old report card had.

[Anonymous]

Last year DD earned all As. This year its mostly Ps and a few Is. I have no idea if she is doing better or worse than last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year DD earned all As. This year its mostly Ps and a few Is. I have no idea if she is doing better or worse than last year.

Maybe she did fine last year, and this year she's doing fine?

[Anonymous]

Maybe the grading is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the grading is ridiculous.

The only problem with this statement is "maybe"...

[Anonymous]

I've been to open houses, meetings on C2.0 and am heavily involved in my children's schools.

Why does it take a anonymous posting on DCUM to really receive a coherent explanation?

As far as reading, your child's grade on the report card is based on his or her demonstration of understanding of the reading standards and indicators at their instructional level. Therefore, if the standard the teacher is working on calls for students to be able to identify and describe the story elements from a text, and your child is reading at a level P, he or she will be given a level P text and then asked to identify the characters, setting, problem and solution. Another student in the same class might be reading below grade level and be given the same task using a text at their reading level. If both students are successful, both would earn a P. It has nothing to do with reading level. It's also possible a child could be reading above grade level and get an I or N for the same reason.

I also agree with the other poster that this is to close the achievement gap within the classrooms.

Seems to me that a grade on reading level would be a grade on reading level and that comprehension is another thing all together.

[Anonymous]

Why does it matter?

It matters because if you are achieving ABOVE grade level your report card should show it. It's not for the parent or to compare your child to anyone else.

If you do the work, read extra books, your report card should be a reflection of the effort and achievement you have gained.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure that they aren't using personal report cards to assess the achievement gap. They are using standardized tests. So the report card format has nothing to do with the achievement gap.

Actually, it has a high impact in schools with mixed performing students. It allows for teachers to spend all their time with kids who fall under the bar. If 80% of the class is at a P and parents have no information whether their child is a low P or high P, the teacher can just focus on the kids at the bottom. It reduces the amount of time that teachers spend grading and providing any comments. This facilitates larger classes without any additional teaching support.

Its a reminder to everyone that no one should go above the bar or ever spend any resources on kids who already meet the bottom bar. It solidifies the position that MCPS is about the aggregate meeting the lowest bar and that an individual child's performance and education is of no interest to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm pretty sure that they aren't using personal report cards to assess the achievement gap. They are using standardized tests. So the report card format has nothing to do with the achievement gap.

Actually, it has a high impact in schools with mixed performing students. It allows for teachers to spend all their time with kids who fall under the bar. If 80% of the class is at a P and parents have no information whether their child is a low P or high P, the teacher can just focus on the kids at the bottom. It reduces the amount of time that teachers spend grading and providing any comments. This facilitates larger classes without any additional teaching support.

Its a reminder to everyone that no one should go above the bar or ever spend any resources on kids who already meet the bottom bar. It solidifies the position that MCPS is about the aggregate meeting the lowest bar and that an individual child's performance and education is of no interest to them.

Yes, this would all make sense, if MCPS were reporting on the percentage of students who get a P. But they're not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does it matter?

It matters because if you are achieving ABOVE grade level your report card should show it. It's not for the parent or to compare your child to anyone else.

If you do the work, read extra books, your report card should be a reflection of the effort and achievement you have gained.

The report card does show the reading level.

[Anonymous]

Its a reminder to everyone that no one should go above the bar or ever spend any resources on kids who already meet the bottom bar. It solidifies the position that MCPS is about the aggregate meeting the lowest bar and that an individual child's performance and education is of no interest to them.

This is exactly what is happening.

Yes, this would all make sense, if MCPS were reporting on the percentage of students who get a P. But they're not.

Really? You don't think that they don't examine and measure the grades of students internally?

If your child KNOWS they are reading above grade level they don't expect to get a higher grade than their friend in class that is reading and struggling with simpler material?

If you have mastered grade level material and are performing ABOVE grade level should you not get a grade that reflects that? What kind of message does that send kids, or even more telling, when the get out of ESPIN land and get to real grades in higher levels how do you shift their expectations to perform at the highest level possible? They are being trained to meet the middle and not be rewarded with a higher grade for higher achievement.

[Anonymous]

one important thing to remember is that many standardized tests are made to show ability in certain areas.
Grades reflect performance. My child did very well on the tests of ability, but always got a P for a grade because he simply didn't put that much effort into the work assigned.