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District staff review standards-based grading system, explain 0–4 scale and "decaying average"
Summary
District staff presented the standards-based learning and reporting system (0–4 proficiency scale) and explained grading calculations, reassessment guidance and how course proficiency maps to letter grades and transcripts.
District staff provided a detailed presentation of the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District's standards-based learning and reporting model at the July 28 board meeting, describing the rationale, research base and how the system will be reported to families.
"Our grades are based on the quality of our students' learning evidence," the presenter explained, describing the district's use of a 0–4 proficiency scale where level 3 is proficient and level 4 represents extending work. Staff said the district uses a "decaying average" in the gradebook that weights the most recent evidence more heavily (approximately 60% recent, 40% prior) so that improvements show up in a student's proficiency level.
Staff reviewed how course proficiency is calculated (averaging standard proficiency levels), how those proficiency levels are correlated to conventional letter grades for transcripts and GPA, and where parents and students can find the district's proficiency scales and report-card formats online in English and Spanish. The presenter said elementary reporting has been in place five years and high school reporting four years, and described reassessment guidance that asks teachers to communicate deadlines for work and retakes.
Board members asked about reassessment windows, how NE (no evidence) entries are handled and whether the change affects dual-enrollment or summer school grading; staff said dual-enrollment and some summer-credit-recovery offerings remain on a traditional grading scale for delivery reasons.
