Students tell Bend‑LaPine board standards‑based grading rollout is confusing; students ask for district calibration and clearer communication

Student representatives told the Bend‑LaPine School Board on Nov. 20 that the district’s move to standards‑based instruction and grading has left many students unsure how course scores will translate to traditional grades and college applications. Sam Brooksbank, a senior at Caldera, said students see “notable differences in how standards based grading is being used from classroom to classroom” and asked the district to convene calibration events so teachers apply scoring more consistently.

The student voice council described several specific concerns: unclear definitions for a top score, uneven application across classrooms and sections of the same course, stress about heavier weight on end‑of‑semester assessments, and a perceived decline in incentive for classroom attendance when practice assignments do not count toward semester grades. “Students, teachers, and families have expressed that they still feel unsure about parts of standards based grading,” the council said in its presentation.

Board members asked how student feedback was gathered; students said much of it came from peer interactions and conversations with teachers. Directors acknowledged the rollout has caused anxiety and pledged to press for transparency. One board member said the district had committed to information nights, and another urged administrators to clarify how the standards‑based scores convert to letter grades and how colleges and OSAA eligibility rules are affected.

Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Lisa Burke said the district is holding additional outreach and agreed to provide further data and follow‑up materials. The students asked for districtwide calibration, clearer written guidance to families and coaches, and ongoing opportunities to provide feedback as the district continues implementation.

The board did not take formal action on standards‑based grading at the meeting; directors said they would work with administration to improve communication and report back to the board and the student body.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled as posted on the district calendar, and students said they plan to continue the conversation at the next student voice council meeting.