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Many Forms, One Question

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The Short Answer

We want to make sure grades are as fair, accurate, and helpful as they can be for all students.

Also, we got a really big grant to support this work!

Listen to Parents/Caregivers

Parent/Caregiver Survey Results

Survey Statement	% Who Disagree	% Who Are Neutral	% Who Agree
Grades at SST are accurate. In other words, grades represent what students know and can do.	16.5%	13.5%	70.0%
Grades at SST are fair. In other words, if students know the content or skills, they can do outstanding on every assignment.	16.5%	14.7%	68.8%
Grades at SST are helpful. In other words, grades help students learn more or learn better.	18.2%	24.1%	57.6%

Listen to Teachers

Teachers were asked about 8 different grading practices during department meetings.
For 5 of these practices, 50% or more of our departments felt they were worth considering.
This feedback helped craft the plan we designed for the 2023-2024 school year.

Listen to Employers

89% said grades are not an important factor when hiring.
78% would prefer using a system of words over a percentage grade.
100% were willing to pilot a new timecard/scoresheet that uses words instead of percentages.
56% felt work habits are more important than skills and knowledge.

Listen to Colleges/Universities

Interviews with admissions personnel at 10 of the schools to which our students most often apply
All 10 said there would be no negative impact to a standards-based transcript, provided there’s a GPA.
1 was excited about standards-based transcripts, because they give more information.
1 said our proposed system “seems like the best of both worlds” because it provides a fair GPA and focuses on learning.

Not a Fad!

There are lots of other schools doing this work, across the country and in Massachusetts.
There are dozens of books, articles, and reports supporting this work.
Even the NCAA ran a webinar in February of 2023 to talk about how they support incoming students who come from a standards-based grading system.

Listen to the Students

Informal polling during Wellness classes showed that 49% of 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th graders felt that grades at SST are not fair, accurate, and helpful.

Student Survey Results

Survey Statement	% Who Disagree	% Who Are Neutral	% Who Agree
Grades at SST are accurate. In other words, grades represent what you know and can do.	31.0%	15.4%	53.6%
Grades at SST are fair. In other words, if you know the content or skills, you can do outstanding on every assignment.	25.9%	15.9%	58.3%
Grades at SST are helpful. In other words, grades help you learn more or learn better.	39.6%	25.6%	34.7%

The Big Takeaways

The goal is to ensure that grades are as fair, accurate, and helpful as possible.
The approach at SST has been collaborative, research-based, and builds off of work started over a decade ago.
Colleges and employers are on board with this!