1. Standards-Based Assessment & Curriculum Department Updates May 18, 2015

2. What Grade should this Student Earn?
Assignment 1 D
Assignment 2 C+
Assignment 3 C-
Assignment 4 Missing
Assignment 5 F
Assignment 6 B
Assignment 7 A-
Assignment 8 B+
Assignment 9 A
Assignment 10 A

3. What is a Standards Based Grading System?
An assessment system designed to inform students, parents, and school staff of progress towards achieving specific learning standards
(not every state standard)
Establishes high expectations for all students by setting clear benchmarks
Describes what students should know and do

4. How does SBG Differ from Traditional Grading?
SBG describes proficiency level on specific skills or content

5. SBG Does not present 1 final cumulative grade for a subject area
SBG Does not combine behavioral aspects of learning with academic aspects (separate “grades” )

6. Traditional and Standards Based Grading serve different purposes
Traditional and Standards Based Grading serve different purposes. What is our Purpose for Grading?
To answer this we need to consider
Role of School
Purpose and Use of Assessment
Where do Work Habits Fit In?

7. What do we gain from using Standards Based Grading?
Students have time to develop skills and learn content
Accurate information to focus instruction
Parents have a clearer picture regarding their child’s skill level
Keeps everyone focused on the learning targets

8. What Grading Scale will Denville K-5 be Using ?
M+ = Exceeds standard, demonstrating readiness beyond grade level
M = Meets grade level standard
P = Progressing towards, but not yet meeting grade level standard
LP = Limited Progression towards grade level standard
X = Standard not evaluated at this time

9. What Else Should I be Aware of on the Report Card?
Not all indicators can receive an M+ (denoted with *)
The benchmarks for the standards change each marking period
Xs are used when the content has not been covered yet
Some assignments can provide evidence or grades for more than one standard

10. Curriculum Department Update 2014-2015
Summer Literacy Institute in June- 42 teachers attended
Consistent Summer Assignments
Literacy Coach
Consistent Benchmarks K-8 in ELA and Math
72 new ELA units for K-5
New PARCC/Common Core Type Writing Tasks replaced old prompts, rubrics & exemplars
All teachers have Revised Units of Study for Writing published by Lucy Calkins (Writer’s Workshop Model)
New Literacy Resources including mentor texts in all grades, text sets in grades 3-5, myths and legends grade 4, and expanded non-fiction libraries K-5, Westward Expansion for 5th

11. 2014-2015 continued 6th Grade Pre-Algebra Course
Science teachers received professional development on Next Generation of Science Standards
Social Studies trained on Research Simulation Task and Corresponding Rubric
Successfully completed Year 1 of PARCC
Student Success Academy grades 4-5
Dyslexia Screening Grade 2
Parent Academy for Student Success

12. What is Coming … 2015-2016 Summer Literacy Institute Year 2
9 Staff members accepted and attending Teachers College Summer Institute at Columbia University
6 Staff members attending Orton-Gillingham Summer Institute (Reading Training)
Additional books for ELA K-8
Revised Science Curriculum 3-8
Revised Health Curriculum K-8)
Revised Physical Education (PE) Curriculum K-8

13. 2015-2016 continued New Science Texts Grades 3-6
In addition to current High School programs (Spanish 1, French 1, Algebra 1, and Geometry ) Valleyview will offer Honors Biology 1 and French 2
Grades 3 & 4 will no longer report traditional letter grades on report card
Elementary Schools will operate on a 5 day cycle rather than the current 6
New Gifted and Talented Identification process
New CogAT screener in grades 2 & 5 will only take 30 minutes instead of 3 days