Elementary Standards-based Report Card
STANDARDS-BASED GRADING FOR REPORT CARDS
In Durham Public Schools (DPS), we envision a student-friendly report card with clearly defined learning targets aligned to high-quality, balanced assessments. Our standards-based report card seeks to provide meaningful feedback so both students and parents can track student progress toward mastery of key academic concepts and standards, reflect upon strengths and areas for improvement, and identify multiple pathways to deeper learning.
Standards-based grading communicates how students are performing on a set of clearly defined learning targets called standards. The purpose of standards-based grading is to identify what a student knows, or is able to do, in relation to pre-established learning targets.
A standards-based report card lists the most important skills students should learn in each subject at a particular grade level. Within the standards-based report card, clusters are used as “umbrellas” to smaller groups of standards. DPS uses clusters in order to reduce the number of standards listed on the actual report card, resulting in a more concise document.
Students receiving AIG, EC, and/or ESL services will receive district supplemental documents describing a student’s progress regarding specialized services.
Parents may request a conference with the teacher to discuss their student’s progress and ways to support their learning in and out of school.
Rating Scale for Standard Course of Study
Student performance is shown with levels of 1 to 4 to indicate whether the student has met the expectations set by the state in the Standard Course of Study. Teachers use summative assessments and other recent evidence to determine the student’s level of proficiency for a grading period . The descriptors for each level have been aligned to the expectations of the Standard Course of Study (Common Core State Standards and NC Essential Standards) for all content areas. The levels and descriptors (within a cluster) are:
Level 4 - Exceeds All Standards
Level 3 - Meets All Standards
Level 2 - Meets Some Standards
Level 1 - Does Not Meet Standards
Non-academic Behaviors
Students will receive grades (C=consistently, S=sometimes, or R=rarely) for non-academic behaviors. In reporting on non-academic behaviors, the teacher will indicate whether the student:
Takes responsibility for learning
Respects authority, peers, and property
Follows directions
Completes classwork on time
Completes homework on time
Demonstrates effort
Participates in class activities
Collaborates effectively with peers
Cooperates in Art Class
Cooperates in Music Class
Cooperates in P.E.
