Standards-Based Grading

D97 has adopted standards-based grading because it: 

  • Communicates a student’s progress toward learning standards
  • Provides meaningful feedback to students, teachers, and parents
  • Produces more meaningful student work
  • Helps teachers adjust and differentiate instruction
  • Reflects what a student knows, not how long it took to arrive there           
  • Aligns with the Common Core State Standards
  • Is based on current research of best practices in grading

D97’s vision is that report card grades are clear, meaningful, fair, and accurate representations of student progress towards meeting grade level expectations of the standards. Report cards are tools that inform the student, teachers, and parents of the student’s progress in mastering the grade level standards. Students are given opportunities and information on how to demonstrate mastery and the ability to go beyond the standard, when applicable.