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Board hears plan to replace 'partial/strong command' with 4‑point elementary report card
Summary
Presenters described a 40‑member committee's recommendations to move to a 4‑point numeric scale, consistent learner qualities and quarterly expectations, plus drop‑down comments for parents on the SMCPS website.
District presenters told the board that changes to Maryland standards required an updated elementary standards‑based report card (SBRC) and that a 40‑member committee made up of teachers, administrators and parents developed the revisions. "It'll be a 4, 3, 2, and 1 now," one presenter said when describing the new rating scale that replaces the previous 'partial/strong command' language.
Presenters said the committee consolidated learner qualities (interpersonal skills, responsibility, perseverance, collaboration and initiative), introduced quarterly expectations so parents can track progress each grading period, and will replace the narrative comment with selected drop‑down comments and a parent version of the criteria on the SMCPS website. Pre‑K will retain social foundations and a different rating set. The presenters said the committee will reconvene quarterly to review implementation and will send surveys to teachers, administrators and parents to collect feedback.
Board members praised the clarity of the new format and asked whether students served on the committee (presenters said no). Several members suggested ways to introduce the report card to families and to consider student surveys in future rollouts. No formal board action was required at the presentation.
