The new standards based grading system is slowly working its way into schools across the Capistrano Unified School District, having an effect on all aspects of classwork, especially final exams.
Standards based grading is an alternative grading system that is gradually being implemented into only specific classrooms, such as Mrs. Harlan’s Topics in Calculus class.
The new grading system’s main goal is to more accurately assess students proficiency in state mandated standards. However, it seems that there is no sure layout for the new grading system in respect to final exams as of yet.
Mrs Harlan stated that “Each teacher piloting is using finals in a different manner.”
Final exams are tests which encapsulate all the information of the past semester, usually making the tests long and worth a lot of points for students. With the new grading system, it can be expected that students will be graded on less material than a traditional final.
Mrs. Harlan explained that the new finals will require students to recall less information as only information that is deemed most important will be put on the test. However, this is only for Mrs. Harlan’s classes and can vary based on how the teacher wants to incorporate the grading standards.
Mrs. Harlan and a Topics in Calculus teacher at Tesoro High School are working together as they both are piloting the new program. One noticeable change to the layout of the final exam is that while all students are required to take the exam, students may choose to also be retested in order to replace grades on other learning targets from earlier in the semester.
Whether or not the new grading system’s final exams are easier or harder for students is up to personal opinion, however, Mrs. Harlan says, “I think it will be more beneficial for students.”
On the decree of board policy 5121.1 for the Capistrano Unified School District, it is stated that “teachers shall base student grades on their mastery of course content based on district standards.”
This new shift in grading policy is likely in order to stay more true to the notion of grading in accordance to standards by the district.
Classes that currently have the standards based grading system are limited. In schools across the Capistrano Unified School District, select teachers were chosen to pilot the new grading system. These teachers are known as the “Grading Coalition,” with the main goal of using their own discretion to try out the standards grading system.
The standards based grading system’s main purpose is to provide a score only for state required assignments. This could result in some teachers having multiple grade report cards for students, one containing the state standards and other of assignments the teacher deems necessary.
While some may be excited to see this new system in effect, it seems the district will attempt to slowly faze it into classes one at a time rather than overhauling the grading system most people are familiar with.
The standard based grading system is an exciting new way of testing students’ knowledge of curriculum, which may make the all important final exams a little easier going forward.