Dear parents and guardians,
This year all teachers at Churchill Junior High are using proficiency-based grading (PBG). Grades are based on student proficiency in Utah State Core Standards. These grades are intended to communicate progress toward mastery of course content standards. Student grades are based on assessments of each standard; summative scores for each standard are determined by decaying average. At any moment, students and parents can see how proficient the student is on each core standard. As students complete assessments, scores for individual assessments are visible on Gradebook; however, a calculated overall grade/ proficiency will not be shown until scores on a minimum of three assessments per standard have been entered into Gradebook. Before parent teacher conferences, your student may not have an overall grade in every class. There are several courses where standards are taught several times over a span of the whole quarter, semester, or year; therefore, that class will have several assessments completed but may not have three assessments in one standard. However, you can see how your student is doing on individual assessments in Gradebook even if three assessments in each standard have been done (see instructions below).
Elements of
Proficiency-based Grading:
- Focus shifts to learning and gaining proficiency from accumulating points.
- Grades/scores based on student proficiency in Utah State Core Standards and are intended to communicate progress toward mastery of course content standards.
- Class activities, assignments, and homework–now known as practice–are used as preparation for core standard assessments.
- Student scores are based on assessments of each standard; summative scores for each standard are determined by at least three assessments for each standard.
- At any moment, students and parents can see their student’s progress toward proficiency in each course standard.
- Issues of student behavior, participation, punctuality, work timeliness (late work), and effort are reflected in a citizenship grade rather than an academic grade.
- “Extra credit “or “bonus points” are not included in the academic grade. Highly proficient (4) is awarded for application and deep understanding of a standard not based off extra credit/work.
- There are multiple and frequent opportunities for students to demonstrate concept proficiency.
- Homework is meaningful independent practice requiring time and effort outside the classroom. Homework has a purpose tied to content standards to help students gain proficiency but is not scored.
- Points are not deducted for reasons other than a student’s lack of academic proficiency.
- Classroom assessments tie directly to content standards and objectives.
- Gradebook is updated regularly (at least once a week) to prompt learning and increase proficiency in content standards
For more Granite District information on proficiency-based grading: https://www.graniteschools.org/grading/or Granite PBG Informational video: https://bit.ly/2NptBRa