CNUSD to launch standards-based report cards for TK–6, district says

Corona-Norco Unified School District leaders told the school board they will switch elementary report cards to a standards‑based 1–4 proficiency system beginning in the 2025–26 school year. The change covers transitional kindergarten through sixth grade and is intended to “provide clearer, more accurate feedback to students and their parents,” the district said.

Board members heard that the shift replaces point- or completion-based letter grades with performance measures tied to California Common Core standards and the newly released TK learning foundations. Under the new rubric, a score of 3 will indicate a student meets the grade‑level standard, and a 4 will indicate work that consistently extends the standard. The district plans family webinars in June and August, handouts in Spanish and Mandarin, and an online resource page for parents.

“We know that it will improve consistency and the equity and clarity in grading across our classrooms,” the presentation quoted Dr. Goins as saying during the board meeting. District leaders said teachers have participated in multi-day professional learning and that the report-card workflow will be integrated into the grade book so teachers can record progress along the way rather than retrofitting a new format at the end of the trimester.

Board members asked how much teacher workload would increase and whether parents would be able to monitor progress before the end of a grading period. District staff replied that marks will appear on assignments and progress indicators in the grade book so parents and students can see movement from a 1 to a 2 or a 3 on specific standards; items not yet taught can be marked NA. Staff also emphasized ongoing support and that the district has provided a multi-day training sequence to build teacher familiarity before the fall launch.

Presenters said the transition is meant to align instruction and reporting and to reduce subjectivity in grades. They noted the program’s development began in 2018, paused for the pandemic, and resumed in 2022–23 with teacher committees and IT supports. The board did not take an immediate vote to adopt a change that is being phased in districtwide; the presentation outlined the implementation timeline and family-engagement plan.

The district will open family webinars and post recorded sessions, sample report cards and frequently asked questions on its website. Teachers and parents will also be able to request one‑on‑one conferences to discuss individual student progress.

The presentation concluded with a short video aimed at families summarizing the change and how it differs from traditional letter grades.