Students' new goal is to get straight 4s

By Diane Huber | The Olympian • Published October 06, 2008

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LACEY – Report cards will look a little different for elementary school students in North Thurston Public Schools this year.

The district switched to a standards-based report card after launching a pilot program in some classrooms last year.

Rather than letter grades, parents will see a 1, 2, 3, or 4, based on whether a student falls significantly below standards, falls somewhat below standards, meets standards or exceeds standards.

District officials say the new system better reflects students' progress and understanding of the material.

"It makes a more accurate assessment of what you know and what you can do," said Phil Dommes, North Thurston's Director of Assessment.

Teachers no longer will include homework or students' behavior as part of a letter grade; the mark only will represent the student's learning achievement, measured by test scores, key assignments and observations. Work habits, homework and behavior will be evaluated separately.

Other changes include:

• Late assignments will not reduce a grade

• Extra credit or bonus points also will not typically factor into the grade

• Grades will not be based on attendance

• Homework will not be factored into grades, but rather used as practice and to guide teachers on what to focus on.

• Grades will be organized by standards or learning goals rather than on one specific subject. For example, the third grade report card will measure students' reading skills based on fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Districts throughout the state have been adopting the standards-based report cards since the mid to late 90s, said Bill Keim, superintendent of Educational Service District 113. But ESD doesn't track which local districts have adopted the grading system, he said.

Olympia and Tumwater districts still do traditional grading, officials said. Olympia is looking at revising elementary school report cards in the next year or two to measure standards and better align with middle school report cards, said spokesman Peter Rex.

Other districts that used standards-based report cards include South Kitsap, Sumner, Puyallup, Kent and Tahoma.

Diane Huber covers education and features for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-357-0204 or dhuber@theolympian.com.