New report cards to debut in Glendale Unified School District
Glendale educators recently unveiled a draft version of a new elementary report card that will be used to measure the success of students, including their effort in various subjects and behavior skills, during the upcoming academic year.
The draft was in the works for months as a committee of nearly 30 teachers, principals and others who work at elementary schools in Glendale Unified met for the first time in October for their first of several full-day meetings.
They examined report cards that school districts in other states and counties have already created to match up with the new Common Core State Standards currently being implemented.
The current report card used at local elementary schools was developed nearly 15 years ago, said Lynn Marso, assistant superintendent of educational services.
What will remain similar on the new report card is the way teachers will grade elementary students using a 1-to-4 point scale.
A “4’” will indicate the student has a thorough understanding of the material. A “3” will signify the student’s adequate comprehension, while a “2” will stand for a partial understanding and a “1” will indicate minimal success.
Perhaps the greatest change will feature new measures that will grade students on their behavior.
When it comes to students’ effort, teachers will indicate whether their students have satisfied educators’ expectations or whether students need improvement.
For example, students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade will be evaluated on their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, among others, under the language arts category, and teachers will also mark whether students are making an effort in the subject overall.
In math, teachers will indicate whether students are making an effort there, in addition to grading them on numbers and operations, algebraic thinking and geometry as well as measurement and data skills.
Students will also be graded on their effort in physical education, digital literacy, science and history as well as visual and performing arts.
“Teachers felt very strongly they wanted an academic grade, but [also] one effort grade to show the effort the child was putting into it,” Marso said.
Glendale educators plan to inform parents at meetings ahead of the beginning of the next school year in August.
Another significant change with the new report cards will establish mandatory conferences for kindergarten parents who will be required to meet with their child’s teacher after their child completes their first trimester in school.
Across the elementary grades, teachers will also indicate whether students are self-directed learners, complex thinkers who can solve problems in various ways and respectful of fellow classmates, adults and property.
Teachers will also mark whether a student completes classwork and homework on time, expresses thoughts clearly and listens to others.
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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.
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