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Anonymous wrote:I work at Herndon HS. Our school had SBG implemented this year. About a month ago email was sent from our principal to all staff saying the school had an event when representatives from other FCPS schools came to visit to learn about SBG. She said there was a panel of students answering questions from the guests. She said students were all very happy with SBG, mentioned better relationship with teachers, less stress, etc. I am not going to say she lied but.. to be honest, I wondered how the students were selected for the panel. Anyhow, that is apparently the message all those guests left with. Just saying.

So what do YOU think? Do you think SBG is as bad as the Madison posters claim, or do you think your principal is trying to suck up to Gatehouse by saying SBG is an improvement?

Is it possible that it's implemented differently in the two schools?

It does seem like it is SOME Madison kids and parents unhappy. Maybe other schools are using + and - grades in every class.

Yes, would agree. Most of the parents at the focus group had kids who were high-achievers so frustrated at the push to keep the grades in the middle. If you have a more laid back kid already in the middle or a kid struggling just to pass, this system is probably looking pretty good to you. Wish there was a way to make more people happy.

They said they wanted equal outcomes for all and this is one way they are going to achieve them. Round up, round down, and push the grades to the middle.

Then make it universal across the county.

If this comes to our pyramid pretty sure there will be a mass revolt.

Any revolt will be clouded and disappear in the smoke stats that FCPS puts out. For every 10 parents that say no, FCPS will make newsletters and presentations for the 1 parent that says yes. I cannot imagine a scenario where FCPS will change plans and they will always be able to find stats to support what want to do.

Don’t forget they tried to force schools to accept IB years ago. Parents at Woodson revolted and they stopped replacing AP with IB at any more schools. You just need parents who care more about academics than sports.

Or maybe we (1) care less about grades than some, and (2) are more accepting of our kids going to X college than some; or (3) don't see the alleged detrimental effects that some do.

So you are fine with (1) grades that no longer provide parents or students with information that reflects learning, vague rubrics with unclear expectations so students no longer know what it takes to earn an A or even why they got a B or C (who knows why the grade is a "3", the teacher just wrote "And so?" in her feedback, and classes that only assess some skills a few times a year such as in my kid's science class which has only assessed content twice, but has assessed data assessment or lab skills many, many times. (2) You are fine with kids being placed at a disadvantage relative to kids at non-SBG schools and being less competitive when applying to VT or UVA. Perhaps you even like the idea of kid going OOS, because some OOS school that ranks lower than JMU will be exciting enough to appease your kid. (3) Your kid manages to get ok grades despite not trying hard and talking to his friends in class, not doing practice work, and playing video games at night, and you wouldn't even know the erosion that has occurred, because to know that at this school, you have to be a parent doing all the work, paying attention to schoology, basically staying up on every assignment, and asking them questions every single day making sure they do every assignment and the practice they turn in is not half-ass.

This system cultivates laziness and does not incentivize anyone to do their best. Anyone can get OK grades at this school with hardly any effort. And why not when trying hard gets you the same outcome.

And btw, colleges don't do this crap, so when your kid gets to college, he will be in for a huge shock.

Don’t forget they tried to force schools to accept IB years ago. Parents at Woodson revolted and they stopped replacing AP with IB at any more schools. You just need parents who care more about academics than sports.

Or maybe we (1) care less about grades than some, and (2) are more accepting of our kids going to X college than some; or (3) don't see the alleged detrimental effects that some do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Herndon HS. Our school had SBG implemented this year. About a month ago email was sent from our principal to all staff saying the school had an event when representatives from other FCPS schools came to visit to learn about SBG. She said there was a panel of students answering questions from the guests. She said students were all very happy with SBG, mentioned better relationship with teachers, less stress, etc. I am not going to say she lied but.. to be honest, I wondered how the students were selected for the panel. Anyhow, that is apparently the message all those guests left with. Just saying.

So what do YOU think? Do you think SBG is as bad as the Madison posters claim, or do you think your principal is trying to suck up to Gatehouse by saying SBG is an improvement?

Is it possible that it's implemented differently in the two schools?

It does seem like it is SOME Madison kids and parents unhappy. Maybe other schools are using + and - grades in every class.

Yes, would agree. Most of the parents at the focus group had kids who were high-achievers so frustrated at the push to keep the grades in the middle. If you have a more laid back kid already in the middle or a kid struggling just to pass, this system is probably looking pretty good to you. Wish there was a way to make more people happy.

They said they wanted equal outcomes for all and this is one way they are going to achieve them. Round up, round down, and push the grades to the middle.

Then make it universal across the county.

If this comes to our pyramid pretty sure there will be a mass revolt.

Any revolt will be clouded and disappear in the smoke stats that FCPS puts out. For every 10 parents that say no, FCPS will make newsletters and presentations for the 1 parent that says yes. I cannot imagine a scenario where FCPS will change plans and they will always be able to find stats to support what want to do.

Don’t forget they tried to force schools to accept IB years ago. Parents at Woodson revolted and they stopped replacing AP with IB at any more schools. You just need parents who care more about academics than sports.

Or maybe we (1) care less about grades than some, and (2) are more accepting of our kids going to X college than some; or (3) don't see the alleged detrimental effects that some do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Herndon HS. Our school had SBG implemented this year. About a month ago email was sent from our principal to all staff saying the school had an event when representatives from other FCPS schools came to visit to learn about SBG. She said there was a panel of students answering questions from the guests. She said students were all very happy with SBG, mentioned better relationship with teachers, less stress, etc. I am not going to say she lied but.. to be honest, I wondered how the students were selected for the panel. Anyhow, that is apparently the message all those guests left with. Just saying.

So what do YOU think? Do you think SBG is as bad as the Madison posters claim, or do you think your principal is trying to suck up to Gatehouse by saying SBG is an improvement?

Is it possible that it's implemented differently in the two schools?

It does seem like it is SOME Madison kids and parents unhappy. Maybe other schools are using + and - grades in every class.

Yes, would agree. Most of the parents at the focus group had kids who were high-achievers so frustrated at the push to keep the grades in the middle. If you have a more laid back kid already in the middle or a kid struggling just to pass, this system is probably looking pretty good to you. Wish there was a way to make more people happy.

They said they wanted equal outcomes for all and this is one way they are going to achieve them. Round up, round down, and push the grades to the middle.

Then make it universal across the county.

If this comes to our pyramid pretty sure there will be a mass revolt.

Any revolt will be clouded and disappear in the smoke stats that FCPS puts out. For every 10 parents that say no, FCPS will make newsletters and presentations for the 1 parent that says yes. I cannot imagine a scenario where FCPS will change plans and they will always be able to find stats to support what want to do.

Don’t forget they tried to force schools to accept IB years ago. Parents at Woodson revolted and they stopped replacing AP with IB at any more schools. You just need parents who care more about academics than sports.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Herndon HS. Our school had SBG implemented this year. About a month ago email was sent from our principal to all staff saying the school had an event when representatives from other FCPS schools came to visit to learn about SBG. She said there was a panel of students answering questions from the guests. She said students were all very happy with SBG, mentioned better relationship with teachers, less stress, etc. I am not going to say she lied but.. to be honest, I wondered how the students were selected for the panel. Anyhow, that is apparently the message all those guests left with. Just saying.

So what do YOU think? Do you think SBG is as bad as the Madison posters claim, or do you think your principal is trying to suck up to Gatehouse by saying SBG is an improvement?

Is it possible that it's implemented differently in the two schools?

It does seem like it is SOME Madison kids and parents unhappy. Maybe other schools are using + and - grades in every class.

Yes, would agree. Most of the parents at the focus group had kids who were high-achievers so frustrated at the push to keep the grades in the middle. If you have a more laid back kid already in the middle or a kid struggling just to pass, this system is probably looking pretty good to you. Wish there was a way to make more people happy.

They said they wanted equal outcomes for all and this is one way they are going to achieve them. Round up, round down, and push the grades to the middle.

Then make it universal across the county.

If this comes to our pyramid pretty sure there will be a mass revolt.

Any revolt will be clouded and disappear in the smoke stats that FCPS puts out. For every 10 parents that say no, FCPS will make newsletters and presentations for the 1 parent that says yes. I cannot imagine a scenario where FCPS will change plans and they will always be able to find stats to support what want to do.

As an example, one of the questions was that FCPS recommends that each quarter there are 9 assessments in a class. Many parents were noting that now there are only 3 assessments per class with 3 skills each. So the total number of assessments has gone way down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC experience is similar that some classes have no retakes allowed and those that do, have cannot get more than 3 so maxed out— so effectively if get 100%, get a 4. If get 1 or 2, can retake to get a 3. Hope enough parents go to voice concerns about system.

An example from a math test today. There were five questions. Four out of five questions 100% correct. For one question, my DC got one part out of the four part question wrong. Grade on the entire test dropped to a B. Not an A- or B+, but a B. Pretty frustrating for my kid who is a super hard worker. They just want to give up at this point. It is just so much pressure for each test.

4 correct questions out of 5 is 80%. Your child didn't get a B- they got a B. How is that unfair? I never got partial credit in high school math. I double checked and triple checked my work.

Some of these classes only have one test a month and they get 3 "grades" for them based on skills but it's still just the five or 10 questions they are being assessed on. It's just not a lot of questions to really show an accurate grade in the class. SBG is touted as being more accurate but the reality is that it is less accurate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at Herndon HS. Our school had SBG implemented this year. About a month ago email was sent from our principal to all staff saying the school had an event when representatives from other FCPS schools came to visit to learn about SBG. She said there was a panel of students answering questions from the guests. She said students were all very happy with SBG, mentioned better relationship with teachers, less stress, etc. I am not going to say she lied but.. to be honest, I wondered how the students were selected for the panel. Anyhow, that is apparently the message all those guests left with. Just saying.

So what do YOU think? Do you think SBG is as bad as the Madison posters claim, or do you think your principal is trying to suck up to Gatehouse by saying SBG is an improvement?

Is it possible that it's implemented differently in the two schools?

It does seem like it is SOME Madison kids and parents unhappy. Maybe other schools are using + and - grades in every class.

Yes, would agree. Most of the parents at the focus group had kids who were high-achievers so frustrated at the push to keep the grades in the middle. If you have a more laid back kid already in the middle or a kid struggling just to pass, this system is probably looking pretty good to you. Wish there was a way to make more people happy.

They said they wanted equal outcomes for all and this is one way they are going to achieve them. Round up, round down, and push the grades to the middle.

Then make it universal across the county.

If this comes to our pyramid pretty sure there will be a mass revolt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC experience is similar that some classes have no retakes allowed and those that do, have cannot get more than 3 so maxed out— so effectively if get 100%, get a 4. If get 1 or 2, can retake to get a 3. Hope enough parents go to voice concerns about system.

An example from a math test today. There were five questions. Four out of five questions 100% correct. For one question, my DC got one part out of the four part question wrong. Grade on the entire test dropped to a B. Not an A- or B+, but a B. Pretty frustrating for my kid who is a super hard worker. They just want to give up at this point. It is just so much pressure for each test.

4 correct questions out of 5 is 80%. Your child didn't get a B- they got a B. How is that unfair? I never got partial credit in high school math. I double checked and triple checked my work.

I’d be surprised if other high schools aren’t giving partial credit. But kind of doubt it given the number of 4.6 GPAs. But if all the high schools are grading this way, then I have less of a problem. That seems fair to me. But I’m guessing Madison is an outlier on this.

Just wanted to add that this is in a class with a teacher known for being excellent and not a harsh grader. So to me this is just a reflection of the grading program and not the teacher.