Standards Based Grading — How Our K-12 Implementation Is Successful

Purpose & objective

Our challenge was to integrate technology with the philosophies of standards based grading. This included the integration of standards for all courses with an easy visually pleasing system. We worked with Education Solutions Development in providing us the grade book to meet our needs. After evaluating and modeling the methods of calculating standards based grades we settled on the 35/65 decaying average method of calculating proficiency on a standard. Granite worked with School City it's formative assessment provider to provide a push to grade book functionality. This functionality allows formative assessments administered to students based on the standards to be pushed to Granite's grade book. We also created district wide grading scales to produce traditional letter grades. When modeling SBG we encourage teachers to use different modalities for students to demonstrate proficiency. They could be formative assessments, visual demonstrations or verbalization that demonstrate competency. The teaching and learning department has created proficiency scales for teachers to use with their assessments along with pacing guides. These tools are posted on the district Intranet for teachers.
Granite grew it's pilot to 500 teachers participating in the pilot across many grade levels. These teachers helped fine tune the technology and philosophical areas of Standards Based Grading. Granite gave the opportunity for any teacher in the district to participate in PBG for their classes starting in the 18-19 school year. Granite currently has 1,220 teachers representing 4,874 course at 91 locations participating. There are many elementary schools which are whole school SBG. Of Granite's 67,000 student population 43,879 of them are enrolled in at least one class that has implemented SBG.

Supporting research

Below is a link to a list of scholarly articles related to standards-based grading from a site that we have frequently referred to.
http://mctownsley.net/a-comprehensive-list-of-standards-based-grading-articles/
Another link from the Townsley website with resources:
http://mctownsley.net/standards-based-grading/
Books
Author Title Publisher
Ken O’Connor-A Repair Kit For Grading-Pearson
Myron Dueck-Grading Smarter Not Harder-ASCD
Gera Jacobs and Kathy Crowley-Supporting Students, Meeting Standards-NAEYC Books
Connie M. Moss and Susan M. Brookhart-Learning Targets-ASCD
Robert J. Marzano-Formative Assessment & Standards-Based Grading-Marzano Research
Robert J. Marzano-Transforming Classroom Grading-ASCD
Douglas Reeves-Elements of Grading-Solution Tree Press
Douglas Reeves-Elements of Grading Second Edition-Solution Tree Press
Cathy Vatterott-Rethinking Grading-ASCD

You Tube Videos
Search Title
Rick Wormeli Standards-Based Grading
Standards-Based Practices, part 1,2,3