Barrington delays start of standards-based grading at BMS

Officials had planned to implement standards-based grading at the middle school next year

Posted 6/22/17

Barrington school officials recently postponed the implementation of standards-based grading at the middle school level.

Barrington administrators had planned to switch from the traditional …

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Barrington delays start of standards-based grading at BMS

Officials had planned to implement standards-based grading at the middle school next year

Posted

Barrington school officials recently postponed the implementation of standards-based grading at the middle school level.

Barrington administrators had planned to switch from the traditional grading system used at the middle school to the standards-based grading system, which has been used at elementary schools across the district for the past few years.

But the plan changed after parents said they needed more information about the switch. There were also concerns about how the use of standards-based grading at the middle school level would impact students as they moved on to the high school.

"There are definitely benefits" to standards-based grading, said Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore. "But we need to do a better job communicating the benefits."

The decision to delay implementation of the standards-based grading was shared in an email from the superintendent on Tuesday, June 20, just one day after parents attended a special meeting about the issue.

"This past week, (week of June 11, 2017) we had had an opportunity to inform key stakeholders on standards-based instruction practices, as well as specifics on the standards-based reporting mechanism the committee developed over the course of this past school year," wrote Mr. Messore. 

"Based on reflection from community feedback, school committee feedback, and committee beliefs, the Barrington Middle School Standards Based Grading Committee has decided to postpone the implementation of a standards-based report. 

"During the 2017-2018 school year, we will continue to embrace and further develop our standards-based grading teaching and learning practices."

Standards-based grading is already used at the elementary school level in Barrington — from kindergarten through fifth grade. 

Students at the four local elementary schools receive progress reports that grade their proficiency in a variety of subject areas. A "5" in a certain standard — for example, reading/literature — means that the student has achieved "grade level mastery of the standard. A "4" means a student demonstrates strong command of the standard, and a "3" reflects that a student demonstrates moderate command. A "2" means the student is beginning to develop progress toward the standard and a "1" means a student is not yet demonstrating progress toward the standard.

Each standard includes sub-sections. For example, reading and literature will include sub-sections such as "asks and answers questions using evidence from the text" and "recounts stories to include their elements."

There are more than 30 sub-sections listed on a progress report, not including marks for "specials" such as art, music, physical education and library. Those "specials" include letter grades C, M, S and NP. C stands for "consistently demonstrates this skill," while M is "most of the time," and S is "some of the time." NP means the student is requiring ongoing intervention to develop the skill. 

The numbers used in standards-based grading are a shift from the traditional grades of which many people are more familiar — where a numerical score of 100 meant an A-plus, and anything below of a 60 was a failing grade, or an "F."

A number of parents opposed the switch to standards-based grading at the middle school. Some circulated emails, asking for people to share their concerns with school officials.

Mr. Messore said he has spoken with administrators from other school districts who have made the change to standards-based grading: "They said it takes a long time to make the transition," he added.

For now, there will be no change to the grading system at the middle school, he said. 

"Everything will remain the same."

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