Kraxberger Grading Policies
Please refer to the following information or open the link provided to read an overview of our school grading practices.
Download the information:
https://acrobat.com/#d=iiJFhySTPm1RY5Vxbbhn0w
Grading by Proficiency
The staff of Kraxberger Middle School
· create specific scoring guides for each learning target (the individual targets are identified by the state)
· design assessment tools that clearly indicate a student’s proficiency level for each learning target
· provide timely academic support when needed (opportunities listed at the bottom of the page)
We have found that focusing on an individual’s level of proficiency has resulted in Kraxberger students producing higher quality work and demonstrating increased levels of understanding on all the learning targets!
It is official! This will be the final year of using the eSIS grade book program. Unfortunately, we still need to bridge the gap between a traditional point system and a proficiency system this year. To provide a clear picture of your child’s progress, two areas will be assessed: content knowledge and life skills. Ideally we would like to assign a separate grade for each, but the eSIS program does not allow this practice. As a result, the overall grade will be calculated using the following formula:
· 90% = academic content knowledge scores (what students know and can do)
· 10% = life skills scores (work completion, behavior, participation, ability to work in a group)
Due to using this formula, simply adding the total points earned and dividing by the total points possible will not equal the percent you see on a progress report.
The elementary report cards you are familiar with are excellent examples of proficiency grading. The information on these report cards includes specific skills being taught and a child’s progress in learning these skills. Teachers at the next grade also had this valuable information for each student. At the middle school level, overall letter grades for a class must still be assigned in the eSIS program, but the traditional percentage scale must be adjusted to match the levels of proficiency. The table on the back summarizes these adjustments. Grading by proficiency offers the following advantages:
· All student work that is not at the proficient level can (and should) be improved to show mastery. This practice ensures that students will not have gaps in their understanding of critical concepts and essential skills.
· A student’s grade accurately represents their level of understanding as opposed to a percentage of points earned on class activities. The conversation between student and teacher shifts from, “How many more points do I need to get a certain grade?” to demonstrating that they have mastered the concepts. It is exciting to hear a student talking about the learning, as opposed to how many points is the assignment worth?
· The focus is shifted from the quantity of work completed to the quality of the work completed.
The Kraxberger staff is committed to offering a variety of opportunities to support your child’s academic success. All students will also be required to telephone a parent from the classroom to inform them of their plan to stay after. The following options will be available throughout the year:
· Students may prearrange to meet with a teacher for additional academic support before or after school Monday – Friday.
· On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of each week students may go to the library and receive help from an Instructional Assistant. Monday help ends at 3:40 , Tuesday/Thursday help ends at 3:55 .
· Students who are not meeting learning targets in a specific subject area may stay from 2:30 – 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon instead of having an early release beginning September 26th. The first trimester schedule is on the back.
· There will be a late bus available each day. Students must have a pass from a teacher to take the bus.
First Trimester Wednesday Academic Support Schedule
9/26 - Math/Science/6th grade all areas 10/24 - Math/Science/6th grade all areas
10/3 - LA/SS/Rotation Classes 10/31 - LA/SS/Rotation Classes
10/10 - Math/Science/6th grade all areas 11/7 – Math/Science/6th grade all areas
10/17 - LA/SS/Rotation Classes 11/14 - All Subjects, All grades
****Tuesday, November 28 – Deadline for incomplete/improved work to be turned in! ****
Proficiency Grading Scale
Proficiency Scale Used To Assess Work | LetterGrade
in eSIS
|
Overall
in eSIS
| Characteristics of work to earn that grade… |
4
(3.3 in eSIS)
|
A+
|
100% &
above
|
Advanced – Consistently meets and at times exceeds proficiency by applying knowledge and making connections that were not explicitly taught in class.
|
3 – 3.2
|
A
|
90 - 99%
|
Proficient – Almost all learning targets are fully or consistently met. Assessment scores indicate a high level of understanding of concepts and skills. Assignments are on time, complete, well organized, of high quality and show attention to detail.
|
2.8 - 2.9
|
B
|
85 – 89%
|
Most of the learning targets are fully or consistently met. Assessment scores indicate a good grasp of concepts and skills. Assignments are generally done on time, complete, thorough, and organized with some attention to detail.
|
2.5 – 2.7
|
C
|
75 – 84%
|
Some of the learning targets are fully or consistently met. Assessment score indicates satisfactory acquisition of skills and concepts. Assignments are generally complete, but quality, thoroughness, timeliness, and organization vary.
|
1.9 – 2.4
|
D
|
60 – 74%
|
Approaching – Only a few of the learning targets are fully or consistently met. Student is beginning to grasp and apply concepts. Assessment scores indicate weak acquisition of skills and concepts. Assignments vary widely in quality, thoroughness, and organization, are frequently late, and show little attention to detail.
|
below 1.9
|
I *
|
0 - 59%
| Below – None or almost none of the learning targets are fully or consistently met. Assessment scores indicate little understanding of the concepts and skills. Assignments are of poor quality, frequently incomplete and/or late, and do not show attention to detail. |
.
* Incomplete work that is not improved becomes an F at the end of the trimester.
