Standards-Based Report Cards

1. Standards-Based Report Cards Fremont Unified School District An Informational Session for Families August 2015

2. What Can Parents Expect? • For the 2014-15 school year only- schools will vote to use % grades or rubrics • Schools voting to use the % model for one year will report grades as A, B, C, D, F and O, S and N • Schools voting to begin using the rubric-based model will report grades as a 4,3,2,1 • All sites will use the rubric-based model starting in 2015-16 • Rubrics were modeled after SBAC test results • California is in full implementation of the Common Core State Standards this school year • Multiple measures for performance include but not limited to written, verbal and visuals

3. What Is Being Measured? • Each grade level stipulates specific learning standards that students must master in the areas of: • Social and Emotional Development • Habits for Success • Speaking and Listening • Language • Reading • Writing • Mathematics • Science • History/Social Science • Visual and Performing Arts • Technology, • Health • Physical Education

4. What Are The Common Core State Standards? • Go into effect the 2014-15 school year • All California public schools will begin implementation • These standards were adopted by 43 states • They are a clear set of college and career ready standards for kindergarten through grade 12 • They are designed to ensure students graduating from high school are prepared for college and/or to enter the work force (career) • The standards are outlined in the areas of Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics • The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) go into effect 2016-17 • The History/Social Science Framework is under development • Common Core is defined as few standards per grade level so teachers can go into more breath and depth for each standard

5. Samples of Old and New Standards

6. How Is Student Progress Being Communicated? • Grade level teams have developed standards-based Common Core report cards for kindergarten through grade six. • Primary purpose of these report cards is to communicate the achievement status of student progress toward mastery of standards •  Designed to provide parents/guardians with specific, accurate, fair and useful information about their child’s progress in school • Students will have multiple opportunities to practice, attain, and demonstrate mastery • Rubric scores will be based on evidence gathered through assignments and assessments designed at both the district and classroom levels

7. What Are Performance Level Descriptors? The standards-based report card uses numerical indicators of student performance to indicate progress on the grade level standard each trimester.

8. What Do the Performance Level Descriptors Mean? • A score of 3 means that the student is able to consistently and independently demonstrate mastery of the standard. • A score of 2 often indicates that the student can sometimes demonstrate the learning standard, but is inconsistent and/or may need significant teacher assistance to meet the standard; a 2 demonstrates progressing toward the standard or partial mastery. • A score of a 1 indicates that the student is generally unable to demonstrate the standard even with much assistance and guidance; there is little or no progress toward meeting the standard. • A score of 4 indicates that the student is able to independently and consistently demonstrate the standard AND is able to go significantly beyond the expected level of performance. • It is important to note that the requirements to meet the standard increase each trimester; therefore it is quite possible for a student to score a 3 or 4 first trimester and drop to a 2 second trimester.

9. How Do the Teachers Grade? • Use the Common Core standards as a guide • Teacher committees established curriculum priorities for each trimester along with a suggested rubric for each standard • Trimester scoring guides, along with assessment and student work samples will be used • There are clear and consistent learning expectations. • Teachers design multiple assignments and assessment tasks and collect evidence of student learning throughout the grading period • Evidence may include tests, quizzes, teacher observations, projects, district, State and national assessments, and student work samples. • Teachers review these assessments for evidence of mastery of learning when marking student progress for the report cards.

10. What Standards are Listed on the Report Card? • Many of the same subject headings as before • Behavior/Citizenship have been revised and now are called Social and Emotional Development and Habits for Success • English/Language Arts is now broken up into Speaking/Listening, Language, Reading and Writing • Technology Skills have been added • Trimester scoring guides, along with assessment and student work samples, have been developed to provide teachers with clear and consistent learning expectations. •  Multiple assignments and assessment tasks to collect evidence of student learning throughout the grading period will determine the rubric score • Evidence may include tests, quizzes, teacher observations, projects, district, State and national assessments, and student work samples. • Most Common Core standards are included on the report card; some have been combined- those not listed are still being taught

11. What Does “Taught Year to Date” Mean? • Each trimester has defined expectations toward achievement of the standards, those change as the school year progresses • Example: For the first trimester a kindergartener must know 10 letters/sounds, by the end of the school year, the same standard is now 25 letters and sounds • A student may perform at a 3 one trimester, but not make sufficient progress to make the same mark the next, as defined by the trimester rubrics

12. Reporting of Grades • Each standard is evaluated and given a mark of 1-4 • The standards are then averaged out to the nearest tenth • A rubric score is given for each subject area (gray shaded area next to each subject heading). Example:

13. What Happens to the Honor Roll? • The Honor Roll has always been a product of individual schools • Staffs will work collaboratively to determine the best formula for their school

14. Report Card Timelines • It is important to note that the report card is only one part of an effective reporting system. The key to making the most of this report is an on-going, open dialogue between the parent/guardian and the teacher. We strongly encourage families to participate in conferences and other means of communication with the teacher.

15. Where Can I Access the Report Cards? • The report cards for kindergarten through grade 6 are available from Fremont Unified School District’s website at: http://fremontusdk12.ca.us/reportcards • In addition to viewing the report card itself, you can also access standards and scoring guides that teachers use to mark the performance level of students on each standard.