Elementary Report Card Committee Recommendations
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The committee began meeting in September 2017 based on teacher input that was processed through the Elementary Advisory Council. Stakeholder committee members were selected from the PTSA and PDTA with the review of the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and elementary school administrators. The purpose of the committee is to recommend changes to the elementary report card process that will improve communication with parents about their child’s learning, while being teacher efficient and in alignment with the District’s grading philosophy.
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A Reporting "System"
- Continue our current “system” of three report cards per year (November, March and June) for classroom teachers (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies)
- Continue with “full” round of conferences (Nov/Dec) in the fall (3 half days) and more limited conference in the spring (1 half day)
- Recognition of the importance of conferences (and newsletters, websites, etc…) as part of a “system” of communicating both general and student-specific information to parents
- Recognition of the importance of conferences (and newsletters, websites, etc…) as part of a “system” of communicating both general and student-specific information to parents
- Move to a system of two report cards per year for special areas (art, music, PE)
- January and June (June will be one combined report card)
- January and June (June will be one combined report card)
Reporting Relative to a Point in Time
- Reporting on a “point in time” rather than “end of the year”
- On prior report cards, student progress was rated relative to end-of-year expectations, and most students were “progressing” toward end-of-year standards
- Our recommendation is to report on where students should be at each reporting period
Common Scale
- Utilize the same 1-4 scale for BOTH academics and learning skills
- Promotes consistency
- Promotes understanding of language
Make a “4” Attainable
- Previously a “4” has meant that the student is “exceeding” grade level expectations (e.g. working on the next grade level’s skills)
- Previously a “4” was not attainable for most students
- We recommend a “4” be for students who “meet grade level expectations”
- IF a student is truly working on the next grade level standards this should be noted in comments and in conversations/conferences with parents
- IF a student is truly working on the next grade level standards this should be noted in comments and in conversations/conferences with parents
Using a Numeric Scale (Grades 1-5)
- 4 – Meets grade level expectations
- 3 – Mostly meets grade level expectations
- 2 – Inconsistently meets grade level expectations
- 1 – Not yet meeting grade level expectations
- NYA – Not yet assessed
Technology
- Continue to utilize Infinite Campus (IC) for report cards in grade 1-5
- Only one component of a K-12 student information management system
- Cost
- Efficiency
- In entering
- In printing
- In accessing and storing data
- Provide access to report cards electronically (through the parent portal)
- Paper copies to parents who request them
- Paper copies sent home at end of the school year in June for full report card (plus portal access)
Kindergarten
- Kindergarten to utilize a “continuum”
- Kindergarten continuum to be “piloted” in 2018-19
- Unique opportunity given move to FDK
- Number of new K teachers
- Number of new programs (Bridges, Fundations)
- Kindergarten report card to be reviewed by K teachers, K parents, Elementary Report Card Steering Committee throughout 2018-19
- Continue our current “system” of three report cards per year (November, March and June) for classroom teachers (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies)
