More skills based grading at madison hs

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:How does this lower grades? Only being assessed on major assignments is college-like. Someone said one mistake gives you a B on a test. That’s the part that’s confusing. And won’t colleges be comparing kids within the same school?

In my kid’s class 1 wrong is a B. 2 wrong is a C. Wrong in can be a paper where something underlined should have been italicized. Done once is a B. It goes down from there.

So they’ve raised the bar to get an A?

I think with the broad rubrics, it’s more subjective than ever before. I wouldn’t call it raising the bar. If anything, expectations are lower.

So it's both harder and easier. Makes sense.

Stfu. Clearly you don’t have high achieving kids that go there. If you don’t have kids there, skip the snark and listen. Maybe you’ll learn something.

Seems a little disrespectful/hysterical...

A little. I think you are overreaching. I don't see this post making headline news. 352 posts and this is all you can say is hysterical and disrespectful on an anonymous page that just involves writing? It also seems like both of these posters are against SBG. They aren't giving it any positives. I think you are the one overdramatizing. It's been respectful for the most part and it was implemented in a very disrespectful way just completely changing the grading with no notification from the year prior why or any reason why this was needed. My kid was at the school the year before this was implemented and nothing was said about a need to revamp grading and little was taught to parents or kids till people raised a fuss about it. The school just thought they could make this change without any input from parents and students whatsoever and they still haven't given a reason for the implementation. I call that disrespectful and a bit hysterical over a problem that didn't exist.

So YOU don't have a kid at the school now? But you are really involved in this???

Umm no. It was implemented in full this year and partially last year. That's two year's worth. The school teaches four grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this lower grades? Only being assessed on major assignments is college-like. Someone said one mistake gives you a B on a test. That’s the part that’s confusing. And won’t colleges be comparing kids within the same school?

In my kid’s class 1 wrong is a B. 2 wrong is a C. Wrong in can be a paper where something underlined should have been italicized. Done once is a B. It goes down from there.

So they’ve raised the bar to get an A?

I think with the broad rubrics, it’s more subjective than ever before. I wouldn’t call it raising the bar. If anything, expectations are lower.

So it's both harder and easier. Makes sense.

Stfu. Clearly you don’t have high achieving kids that go there. If you don’t have kids there, skip the snark and listen. Maybe you’ll learn something.

Seems a little disrespectful/hysterical...

A little. I think you are overreaching. I don't see this post making headline news. 352 posts and this is all you can say is hysterical and disrespectful on an anonymous page that just involves writing? It also seems like both of these posters are against SBG. They aren't giving it any positives. I think you are the one overdramatizing. It's been respectful for the most part and it was implemented in a very disrespectful way just completely changing the grading with no notification from the year prior why or any reason why this was needed. My kid was at the school the year before this was implemented and nothing was said about a need to revamp grading and little was taught to parents or kids till people raised a fuss about it. The school just thought they could make this change without any input from parents and students whatsoever and they still haven't given a reason for the implementation. I call that disrespectful and a bit hysterical over a problem that didn't exist.

Seems like you’re using a different definition of those words than the rest of us.

It was disrespectful not to make parents and kids aware of this change before the new year. It was an overreaction to make a change to grading that was never a problem before and affects kids for all of their classes that are sent to colleges. Are you the person who doesn't even know the school teaches kids for four years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this lower grades? Only being assessed on major assignments is college-like. Someone said one mistake gives you a B on a test. That’s the part that’s confusing. And won’t colleges be comparing kids within the same school?

In my kid’s class 1 wrong is a B. 2 wrong is a C. Wrong in can be a paper where something underlined should have been italicized. Done once is a B. It goes down from there.

So they’ve raised the bar to get an A?

I have several kids at madison. Yes, in my experience, much harder now. There is no reason a small, technical issue done once should result in a B.

There is only one reason, equitable grading and closing the gap.

How is raising the bar “closing the gap” or eQuItAbLe grading?

Because when the poor performing students do well, say a C or B on a single assignment it sticks as their final grade. System intentionally confusing and convoluted to allow desired results.

If a student does well then what’s the issue with them getting a B or C?

Still waiting to hear from PP: if a student does well (AKA knows the content) why it’s an issue for them to get a B or C?

Because no one understands your question. Are you asking what’s wrong with getting a 2.0 or 3.0? Having a kid who recently applied to college, I can tell you that you’re not getting into VT or any similar school with that type of gpa

Recap of convo:
Q: How is this “closing the gap”?
A: Poor performing students might do well and get a B or C
Q: why is this an issue?

?

Are poor performing students doing well on grades and also doing better on SOL's and AP classes as a result of SBG? I can't see how it would help them, but if so Madison and FCPS need to show how that is being accomplished through SBG. They've had two years now. I'd like to see the data from the improvements as a result of this SBG. Not just compared to covid days but compared to pre covid years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this lower grades? Only being assessed on major assignments is college-like. Someone said one mistake gives you a B on a test. That’s the part that’s confusing. And won’t colleges be comparing kids within the same school?

In my kid’s class 1 wrong is a B. 2 wrong is a C. Wrong in can be a paper where something underlined should have been italicized. Done once is a B. It goes down from there.

So they’ve raised the bar to get an A?

I think with the broad rubrics, it’s more subjective than ever before. I wouldn’t call it raising the bar. If anything, expectations are lower.

So it's both harder and easier. Makes sense.

Stfu. Clearly you don’t have high achieving kids that go there. If you don’t have kids there, skip the snark and listen. Maybe you’ll learn something.

Seems a little disrespectful/hysterical...

A little. I think you are overreaching. I don't see this post making headline news. 352 posts and this is all you can say is hysterical and disrespectful on an anonymous page that just involves writing? It also seems like both of these posters are against SBG. They aren't giving it any positives. I think you are the one overdramatizing. It's been respectful for the most part and it was implemented in a very disrespectful way just completely changing the grading with no notification from the year prior why or any reason why this was needed. My kid was at the school the year before this was implemented and nothing was said about a need to revamp grading and little was taught to parents or kids till people raised a fuss about it. The school just thought they could make this change without any input from parents and students whatsoever and they still haven't given a reason for the implementation. I call that disrespectful and a bit hysterical over a problem that didn't exist.

Seems like you’re using a different definition of those words than the rest of us.

It was disrespectful not to make parents and kids aware of this change before the new year. It was an overreaction to make a change to grading that was never a problem before and affects kids for all of their classes that are sent to colleges. Are you the person who doesn't even know the school teaches kids for four years?

How dare they not ask you and the rest of the parents how to do their job?

[Anonymous]

PSA: there is a person that monitors the SBG Madison threads just to derail the discussion. The person has a vested interest in SBG. If you engage with this person, you are only helping her. She never makes any good points or backs up anything she’s saying except to link to the Madison video.

The reaction of almost every parent to SBG is at a minimum to question why this change was necessary. And then why it’s being implemented at a handful of schools. High school is when everything is really supposed to matter and FCPS should not be experimenting on some students and placing them at a disadvantage to other students when it comes to college admissions. I think this could lead to future lawsuits. I know many Madison parents with kids at OOS schools because their kids can’t get into VT or JMU. I don’t appreciate Madison admin and Reid making the college process harder and more stressful for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PSA: there is a person that monitors the SBG Madison threads just to derail the discussion. The person has a vested interest in SBG. If you engage with this person, you are only helping her. She never makes any good points or backs up anything she’s saying except to link to the Madison video.

The reaction of almost every parent to SBG is at a minimum to question why this change was necessary. And then why it’s being implemented at a handful of schools. High school is when everything is really supposed to matter and FCPS should not be experimenting on some students and placing them at a disadvantage to other students when it comes to college admissions. I think this could lead to future lawsuits. I know many Madison parents with kids at OOS schools because their kids can’t get into VT or JMU. I don’t appreciate Madison admin and Reid making the college process harder and more stressful for our kids.

+ 1 really nicely sums up how I feel as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PSA: there is a person that monitors the SBG Madison threads just to derail the discussion. The person has a vested interest in SBG. If you engage with this person, you are only helping her. She never makes any good points or backs up anything she’s saying except to link to the Madison video.

The reaction of almost every parent to SBG is at a minimum to question why this change was necessary. And then why it’s being implemented at a handful of schools. High school is when everything is really supposed to matter and FCPS should not be experimenting on some students and placing them at a disadvantage to other students when it comes to college admissions. I think this could lead to future lawsuits. I know many Madison parents with kids at OOS schools because their kids can’t get into VT or JMU. I don’t appreciate Madison admin and Reid making the college process harder and more stressful for our kids.

Why do you think this? Do you often believe in conspiracy theories?

[Anonymous]

NP. Because this person says SBG doesn't affect their child's grades one way or the other, so it doesn't make sense they would be on here derailing the thread so often unless there was another interest they had in the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Because this person says SBG doesn't affect their child's grades one way or the other, so it doesn't make sense they would be on here derailing the thread so often unless there was another interest they had in the discussion.

Which poster are you referring to? There are multiple people who think that OP and others are overreacting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PSA: there is a person that monitors the SBG Madison threads just to derail the discussion. The person has a vested interest in SBG. If you engage with this person, you are only helping her. She never makes any good points or backs up anything she’s saying except to link to the Madison video.

The reaction of almost every parent to SBG is at a minimum to question why this change was necessary. And then why it’s being implemented at a handful of schools. High school is when everything is really supposed to matter and FCPS should not be experimenting on some students and placing them at a disadvantage to other students when it comes to college admissions. I think this could lead to future lawsuits. I know many Madison parents with kids at OOS schools because their kids can’t get into VT or JMU. I don’t appreciate Madison admin and Reid making the college process harder and more stressful for our kids.

Where's the proof that Madison kids' grades are superficially lower than they otherwise would be? And that they have been shut out of schools that they would have been admitted to if they went to another FCPS school? Seems like you are anticipating a negative outcome that hasn't happened.

By your own statement, you ALREADY know people whose JMHS kids did not get into VT and JMU (under the former grading system that you prefer). So, the old grading system wasn't helping them get into those schools. And they made the choice to pay OOS tuition rather than go to ... gasp... GMU or VCU or CNU or UMW.

There are a LOT of kids all over northern VA that can't get into VT; less true for JMU, but yes, I know kids from other FCPS HSs that didn't get into JMU to the chagrin of their alumni parents. Life is tough all over and it's harder to get into many state schools. There are simply more people applying and the common app makes it easier to apply to more colleges.

Ultimately, it seems that you are worried about college admission for your kid, and whether s/he will be competitive. It's a legitimate concern... but can cross over into anxiety if you let it. At this point, do you have any evidence that your kid is being harmed? If it is just being applied this year, and the grades aren't final until the end of the year, how can you be so sure that your kid is disadvantaged?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Because this person says SBG doesn't affect their child's grades one way or the other, so it doesn't make sense they would be on here derailing the thread so often unless there was another interest they had in the discussion.

Logic fail.

some people just like to point out the ridiculousness of hair-on-fire pronouncements!

[Anonymous]

Let’s not feed the troll. Arguing to argue. Makes no sense and doesn’t want to learn. I will disengage because you can’t argue with crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PSA: there is a person that monitors the SBG Madison threads just to derail the discussion. The person has a vested interest in SBG. If you engage with this person, you are only helping her. She never makes any good points or backs up anything she’s saying except to link to the Madison video.

The reaction of almost every parent to SBG is at a minimum to question why this change was necessary. And then why it’s being implemented at a handful of schools. High school is when everything is really supposed to matter and FCPS should not be experimenting on some students and placing them at a disadvantage to other students when it comes to college admissions. I think this could lead to future lawsuits. I know many Madison parents with kids at OOS schools because their kids can’t get into VT or JMU. I don’t appreciate Madison admin and Reid making the college process harder and more stressful for our kids.

Where's the proof that Madison kids' grades are superficially lower than they otherwise would be? And that they have been shut out of schools that they would have been admitted to if they went to another FCPS school? Seems like you are anticipating a negative outcome that hasn't happened.

By your own statement, you ALREADY know people whose JMHS kids did not get into VT and JMU (under the former grading system that you prefer). So, the old grading system wasn't helping them get into those schools. And they made the choice to pay OOS tuition rather than go to ... gasp... GMU or VCU or CNU or UMW.

There are a LOT of kids all over northern VA that can't get into VT; less true for JMU, but yes, I know kids from other FCPS HSs that didn't get into JMU to the chagrin of their alumni parents. Life is tough all over and it's harder to get into many state schools. There are simply more people applying and the common app makes it easier to apply to more colleges.

Ultimately, it seems that you are worried about college admission for your kid, and whether s/he will be competitive. It's a legitimate concern... but can cross over into anxiety if you let it. At this point, do you have any evidence that your kid is being harmed? If it is just being applied this year, and the grades aren't final until the end of the year, how can you be so sure that your kid is disadvantaged?

My evidence that the grades are lower are from the studies that have been done on SBG and personal anecdotes. The schools has not provided any data, despite parent requests, of how grading has been impacted. Until it does, I assume it has lowered grades at the top and raised them at the bottom, just as it is supposed to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PSA: there is a person that monitors the SBG Madison threads just to derail the discussion. The person has a vested interest in SBG. If you engage with this person, you are only helping her. She never makes any good points or backs up anything she’s saying except to link to the Madison video.

The reaction of almost every parent to SBG is at a minimum to question why this change was necessary. And then why it’s being implemented at a handful of schools. High school is when everything is really supposed to matter and FCPS should not be experimenting on some students and placing them at a disadvantage to other students when it comes to college admissions. I think this could lead to future lawsuits. I know many Madison parents with kids at OOS schools because their kids can’t get into VT or JMU. I don’t appreciate Madison admin and Reid making the college process harder and more stressful for our kids.

Where's the proof that Madison kids' grades are superficially lower than they otherwise would be? And that they have been shut out of schools that they would have been admitted to if they went to another FCPS school? Seems like you are anticipating a negative outcome that hasn't happened.

By your own statement, you ALREADY know people whose JMHS kids did not get into VT and JMU (under the former grading system that you prefer). So, the old grading system wasn't helping them get into those schools. And they made the choice to pay OOS tuition rather than go to ... gasp... GMU or VCU or CNU or UMW.

There are a LOT of kids all over northern VA that can't get into VT; less true for JMU, but yes, I know kids from other FCPS HSs that didn't get into JMU to the chagrin of their alumni parents. Life is tough all over and it's harder to get into many state schools. There are simply more people applying and the common app makes it easier to apply to more colleges.

Ultimately, it seems that you are worried about college admission for your kid, and whether s/he will be competitive. It's a legitimate concern... but can cross over into anxiety if you let it. At this point, do you have any evidence that your kid is being harmed? If it is just being applied this year, and the grades aren't final until the end of the year, how can you be so sure that your kid is disadvantaged?

I'm only referring to students from last year's graduating class.

Nope. I'm not just worried about college admissions. Just like the teacher in the video that has taught in schools using SBG, I think SBG does not prepare students and help them cultivate the skills they need to be successful in life. I am heavily supplementing the education my kids are receiving at Madison and monitoring all their work to make sure they submit regardless of whether it's required - this is the OPPOSITE of equity - a poor parent could not do this! We are just at Madison for athletics. At least the coaches still know what it takes to teach kids about success. You don't get to decide what practice you need to do, you have to show up and do it regardless of what you feel like. You don't see those kids standing around on their phones instead of paying attention like you do in Madison classrooms.

Yes - I think there is evidence if you talk to Madison parents with kids before SBG and after SBG - that we now have kids less likely to do work unless it's going to be graded after SBG. I think we have evidence that kids pay attention less in class after SBG. I think we have evidence that everyone, parents and students, are confused about grades after SBG.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP above. Also since there are no retakes the students have less reason to learn from the mistakes they made on the last test. At least my child tells me that their grade will just be replaced when that skill is tested again. And the testing of that “skill” may have nothing to do with previously tested material - so they never actually learn or try to understand what they missed before. Even the teachers tell them that they can just replace their grade later on, so don’t worry about a bad grade. Whether they actually do better later on is a different story.