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Novato Unified details switch to standards‑based grading at middle schools; pilot of JumpRope gradebook planned
Summary
District staff described steps to implement proficiency‑based education at three middle schools and announced a limited JumpRope pilot (about 20 teachers, early spring) to test a platform built for standards‑based grading and integration with Aeries and ParentSquare.
District staff delivered a multi‑school update on implementing proficiency‑based education (PBE) and standards‑based grading at Novato Unified's three middle schools, and announced a pilot of the JumpRope gradebook to see whether it better supports the new approach.
A presenting staff member summarized the rationale for the change as an equity‑centered effort to give students and families clear, standard‑level information about learning progress rather than single A–F marks. The presentation described steps already under way: use of proficiency scales, common assessments, regular teacher collaboration, and a middle‑school PBE team meeting across sites for calibration and shared scoring work.
Presenters told the board that Aeries, the district's current gradebook, does not map cleanly to standards‑based grading and can mix compliance items (homework, participation) with academic mastery. As one teacher on the PBE team (S9) put it, when students use a more visual gradebook "It's even color coded." Staff said that, because of those limitations, the district is piloting JumpRope — a gradebook platform designed for proficiency‑based grading and recently acquired by Aeries — with about 20 teachers each trialing the tool with one class in early spring.
The pilot is intended to test JumpRope's classroom usability, integration with ParentSquare, and ability to surface proficiency progress for students and families. Staff said the pilot will include training and planned opportunities for teacher, student and parent feedback; at the pilot's end the team will evaluate the data and the user experience before making a district‑level recommendation.
Trustees pressed staff on professional development, integration risks and timing. Staff said they are scheduling calibration sessions, planning earlier training, and meeting with JumpRope representatives to clarify estimated integration timelines (staff reported vendor estimates in the May–June timeframe). Several trustees asked for clear reporting back to the board after the pilot to show whether JumpRope improves clarity for students and families and reduces the extra time teachers are currently spending on workarounds.
