Our district in the midwest adopted skills based grading about 5 years ago. There was a big parental outcry about it, but right when I got on board, they started walking it back. It definitely took some time to get used to it. it is still used in MS ALONG with letter grades and not really used in HS, but is still used in elementary (K-5).

Our oldest were very high achievers, and it was initially frustrating to see them just get "3s" every report card (teachers generally couldn't give a 4, because they wouldn't test above grade level except in very rare circumstances.) So everybody on grade level or above just got a "3" on everything. They would also get separate grades for work habits, peer relationships, and adult relationships. What we learned is that we would get the real information at PT conferences.

There was a lot of hand wringing about how it would de-motivated high performing students, but everyone still knew who was acing the tests, who was working ahead of the pack in iReady, who was in the higher reading and math groups. You don't get "points" for handing in HW, or being behaved, or participating in class- your whole "grade" (which is not a grade) is whether or not you've learned the material (and our report cards break everything down standard by standard and give each thing its own number). We would tell our kids - if you keep getting good grades in work habits, peer relationships, and adult relationships, we will assume you are working to your potential. I definitely had to deprogram my competitive mindset a little and not worry about "how they stacked up."

On the flip side -If you have a SN kid, the standards referenced grading (at least how our district does it) is really helpful. My youngest struggles in school, and I am glad he doesn't get "bonus" points for handing in his HW and being respectful in class. I already know whether he is doing those things. But I like to see where exactly he is approaching (or at) grade level and where he is further behind so we and his resource teachers can target his weaker areas. It is also nice to be able to celebrate some accomplishments in areas where they are doing better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools still use skills based grading?

Madison and Herndon did

Oakton as well, I think.

Anonymous wrote:What schools still use skills based grading?

Madison and Herndon did

What schools still use skills based grading?

Anonymous wrote:How does it promote equity?

In the past, grades could included things like homework (either graded homework or completed homework) as part of the grade.

However, homework is racist. So it must be ungraded, or eliminated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

NP.

It is a form of “equity grading.”

Instead of regular tests, they are given skills tests that are graded off a rubric, not proficient, proficient, more than proficient, mastery etc. They will take the most recent grade of a "skill". I think it is meant to try to get kids to bring up their grade by retaking certain skills but we have experienced that it actually can lower your grade and also they are so focused on the skill part that learning the actual content is overlooked. I hope that all FCPS high schools use the same grading methodologies and this skills based grading approach goes away.

It’s meant to further racial equity goals in FCPS.

I was ok with it this year at Madison. Sounds like they will make changes to it again though that will make it more like the few years prior-which were flat out terrible. The counting the SOL, only allowing retake up to 90, etc don’t work well with skills based grading.

Are the SOL counting and up to 90 the changes you speak of to happen or are there more expected?

How does it promote equity?

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone act like skills based grading? I don't like it, the kids all hate it. The parents I have spoken to hate it. Please make it go away!!!!

Please stop drunk posting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

NP.

It is a form of “equity grading.”

Instead of regular tests, they are given skills tests that are graded off a rubric, not proficient, proficient, more than proficient, mastery etc. They will take the most recent grade of a "skill". I think it is meant to try to get kids to bring up their grade by retaking certain skills but we have experienced that it actually can lower your grade and also they are so focused on the skill part that learning the actual content is overlooked. I hope that all FCPS high schools use the same grading methodologies and this skills based grading approach goes away.

This isn’t really true. The tests are pretty much the same, but the way they categorize the grades is different. Your kid may know one standard in algebra but not do as well in another so then you know which to review. They can also just retake that one standard if they have mastered the others which makes sense as it is kind of wasting time to keep reviewing things you know. I am fine with it, but my kid has only had 3 high school level classes as he is starting high school this year and only experience algebra 1, geometry and a language in middle school with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

NP.

It is a form of “equity grading.”

Instead of regular tests, they are given skills tests that are graded off a rubric, not proficient, proficient, more than proficient, mastery etc. They will take the most recent grade of a "skill". I think it is meant to try to get kids to bring up their grade by retaking certain skills but we have experienced that it actually can lower your grade and also they are so focused on the skill part that learning the actual content is overlooked. I hope that all FCPS high schools use the same grading methodologies and this skills based grading approach goes away.

It’s meant to further racial equity goals in FCPS.

I was ok with it this year at Madison. Sounds like they will make changes to it again though that will make it more like the few years prior-which were flat out terrible. The counting the SOL, only allowing retake up to 90, etc don’t work well with skills based grading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

NP.

It is a form of “equity grading.”

Instead of regular tests, they are given skills tests that are graded off a rubric, not proficient, proficient, more than proficient, mastery etc. They will take the most recent grade of a "skill". I think it is meant to try to get kids to bring up their grade by retaking certain skills but we have experienced that it actually can lower your grade and also they are so focused on the skill part that learning the actual content is overlooked. I hope that all FCPS high schools use the same grading methodologies and this skills based grading approach goes away.

It’s meant to further racial equity goals in FCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

NP.

It is a form of “equity grading.”

Instead of regular tests, they are given skills tests that are graded off a rubric, not proficient, proficient, more than proficient, mastery etc. They will take the most recent grade of a "skill". I think it is meant to try to get kids to bring up their grade by retaking certain skills but we have experienced that it actually can lower your grade and also they are so focused on the skill part that learning the actual content is overlooked. I hope that all FCPS high schools use the same grading methodologies and this skills based grading approach goes away.

Anonymous wrote:what is it?

NP.

It is a form of “equity grading.”

what is it?

Does anyone act like skills based grading? I don't like it, the kids all hate it. The parents I have spoken to hate it. Please make it go away!!!!