Developing Standards-Based Report Cards

"Guskey and Bailey offer realistic solutions to improving how educators communicate a student's academic progress to all stakeholders. Their work provides a faculty with the research, step-by-step guidelines, and reporting templates to begin the dialogue to develop a standards-based report card. Without a doubt, this work is a model for schools that want to improve their system of grading and reporting. It certainly has transformed ours!" —Jeffrey Erickson, Assistant Principal Minnetonka High School, MN Develop standards-based report cards that are meaningful to students, parents, and educators! Although schools have moved toward standards-based curriculum and instruction, grading practices and reporting systems have remained largely unchanged. Helping school leaders gain support for transitioning from traditional to standards-based report cards, this book guides educators in aligning assessment and reporting practices with standards-based education and providing more detailed reports of children's learning and achievement. A standards-based report card breaks down each subject area into specific elements of learning to offer parents and educators a more thorough description of each child's progress toward proficiency. This accessible volume: Provides a clear framework for developing standards-based report cards Shows how to communicate with parents, students, and other stakeholders about changes Illustrates how to achieve grading consistency without increasing teachers' workloads or violating their professional autonomy Filled with examples of standards-based report cards that can be adapted to a school's needs, this practical resource shows district and school administrators how to establish reporting practices that facilitate learning.

Table of Contents:
About the Authors 1. Getting Started The Difficulty of Change The Need for Change Why Standards Instead of Letter Grades? Guiding Premises Our Purpose Our Organizational Scheme Our Hope 2. The Importance of Standards Defining "Standards" Five Essential Understandings Standards-Based Report Card Development Levels Summary 3. Defining the Purpose Purpose Questions Leading Discussions About Purpose Key Questions in Defining the Purpose Making the Purpose Clear Method Follows Purpose Purpose Determines the Development Process Multiple Purposes Means Multiple Reporting Elements Focus on a "Reporting System" Summary 4. Developing Reporting Standards Reporting Standards The Development Process Three Types of Learning Goals Conflicts in Reporting on Different Learning Goals Meaning Solutions to the Conflicts Summary 5. Essential Steps in Development: Part I Crucial Questions in the Development Process Summary 6. Essential Steps in Development: Part II Additional Crucial Questions in the Development Process Summary 7. Developing Reporting Forms Defining the Purpose Selecting the Method Based on the Purpose Effective Reporting Forms Combining Methods of Reporting Format and Graphic Layouts Design Processes Additional Sample Reporting Forms 8. Piloting and Revising Broad-Based Involvement Focus Groups Parent, Teacher, and Student Surveys Test-Driven Reporting Back to the Drawing Board Informing the Community Professional Development Parent Education Programs 9. Beyond the Report Card: Developing a Reporting System The Importance of Purpose The Challenge of Communications Tools for a Comprehensive Reporting System Guidelines for Better Practice Summary References Index