Fair and Accurate Grading Project

At most schools, colleges and universities in the United States, letter grades follow a four-point system, using the letters A, B, C, D and E/F, with A indicating advanced, B indicating meets standard, C indicating moving toward the standard, D attempted progress but not meeting standards and F indicating failed to meet standards.  Additionally, most schools calculate a student's grade point average (GPA) by assigning each letter grade a number and averaging those numerical values:  A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1 and F = 1.  This is the traditional GPA scale used in Oakwood.

Chromatic variants ("+" and " − ") are used in many 100-point grading systems, the letter grade without variants is centered around a value ending in five.  The "plus" variant is then assigned the values near the nine digit and the "minus" variant is assigned the values near zero.  Any decimal values are usually rounded.

Competency-based learning or competency-based education is a framework for teaching and assessing learning.  It is also described as a type of education based on predetermined "competencies," which focus on outcomes and real-world performance.

Mastery learning enables students to move forward at their own pace as they demonstrate evidence-based mastery of identified knowledge, skills and dispositions.

Some school districts have instituted what's known as a “No-Zero” grading policy.  In many cases, adopting this policy means the lowest score a student can receive on any assignment or report card is a 50. This policy allows students to numerically have an opportunity to raise their learning outcomes and motivation toward getting back on the path to mastery.  For more on the “No-Zero” policy, visit Edutopia.  

In education, standards-based learning refers to systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting based on students demonstrating understanding or “mastery” of the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education.

The District does not have a contract for a trainer at this time.  The District budgeted an amount not to exceed $20,000 for the defined scope of work in the Fair and Accurate Grading Project.

Mastery learning is demonstrated via performance tasks or evidence showing mastery of a concept.  It is not represented by plus - minus assessments.

The surveys and focus group interviews were additional opportunities for parents, community members, students and alumni to share input, feedback, and information to inform the Team’s and Board’s work.  

Although more merit money is a motivation for some people, we believe the focus of the discussion has been and will continue to be on how to be as fair and accurate as possible not about merit scholarships.  Honors add ons, Latin honors recognition, 10-point scale and continued study should accomplish most of those goals.  GPA has not been chromatic and will continue not to be in the revised system.  The changes to students' GPA will be evaluated.  We suspect these changes may increase GPAs and we will monitor to confirm unexpected consequences of this work, like unwarranted grade inflation, does not occur.

Board meetings have been and continue to be both virtual and in-person.  There have been many opportunities and formats for interested parties to provide input to the Expert Team, administration and Board of Education members. During the past couple of years of study, a task force/committee, surveys, focus groups, phone calls, one-on-one meetings, emails, and other methods have been used to provide input.