Grade Reporting

Recently, California updated standards and practices for many content areas. As a result, we realized our elementary report card needed to be updated. District teachers and administrators researched best practices in the development of an elementary progress report and report card that align with updated standards to communicate effectively with parents and guardians. This will be our first year using the documents that were crafted after our research and development.  

A Standards Based Report Card will share student progress across standards of instruction. This document is intended to show content that is to be learned by students in a particular grade level. Students will receive detailed marks toward progress based on those grade level standards.

Standards Based Grading and Reporting have been used by many districts around the state for a number of years. Some of our neighbors who use this system are San Marino, Arcadia, South Pasadena, Pasadena, and El Monte. Families of students in grades K-5 in those districts are accustom to using this type of grading system. 

Students take standards-based tests beginning in the third grade. They are referred to as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress System (CAASPP). When scores are reported, they are defined in four performance bands similar to those on the report card. This could be a helpful tool since both provide information about progress towards mastery of the state standards.

The state standards are written for year-end mastery. However, teachers will report on mastery based on the time of year and the content taught. Teachers utilize curriculum, multiple measures, and classroom opportunities to develop grades in each area. This allows students to demonstrate mastery in various ways.

You can find content standards at the California Department of Education Website. The District also posts the links through Educational Services.

Since marks in the Kindergarten through fifth grades are now a numeric rubric, it may take some time to get use to the concepts around this type of reporting device and the thinking behind it. A helpful resource comes from Carol Dweck (2015) with her work on mindsets in her book "Mindset, The New Psychology of Success". In it she describes fixed and growth mindsets. A Fixed Mindset system holds that qualities like intelligence and talent are fixed and cannot be changed. Those traits are the only indicators of success. A Growth Mindset believes that people do have a starting point and can develop abilities and talents through dedication and hard work. Please view the link on our District website to learn more about mindset. Report card marks are indicators of progress towards mastery and cannot be compared with a letter grading system.

4 – Extends and Applies  (not on the kindergarten report card)
Students show not only an in-depth understanding of grade level standards on a consistent basis, but also extend and apply the standard to complete assignments.  Students demonstrate with a high degree of accuracy and application of skills as measured through various measures and opportunities during the grading period.

3 – Meets Standards (in kindergarten - “3” is meets or exceeds)
A “3” indicates proficient understanding of the concepts and grade level expectations for the standards at that point of time in the school year. A “3” indicates that the student is right where she or he should be and is meeting the standard..

2 – Approaching Standards
Grades at this level indicate that students have a partial understanding of grade level concepts. A “2” represents basic understanding. Performance may be inconsistent or emerging at that point in time during the school year.

1 – Below Standards
A “1” shows that students have a minimal understanding of the grade level concept at that point in the school year. Performance is inconsistent even with support. Students may need additional interventions to learn concepts important to the grade level.

A score of N/A on the report card means the standard has not yet been taught. Grade level standards not yet covered or assessed will be marked with an N/A, indicating the standard will be addressed at a later time during the school year.

Riding a bicycle is a helpful way to understand the four point rubric. Students progress through the stages of learning in similar ways.