Contact:
Kelly Misch
Communications Director
Chardon Local Schools
440.286.0409
Cultivating a Growth Mindset with Standards-Based Reporting
March 21, 2024 (CHARDON, OH) — The Chardon Schools launch of standards-based reporting reveals a report card that retains full alignment with State standards with the added benefit of communicating student academic performance in a more accurate, detailed manner than traditional grade reporting can accomplish.
What is Standards-Based Reporting?
Standards-based reporting replaces traditional letter grades of A, B, C, D and F with the identification of clearly defined learning targets for essential academic content standards within a given subject, specifically whether the student has:
- Mastered (M) the standard's content
OR is - Progressing (P), moving towards mastery of the standard with some support
OR is - Emerging (E), experiencing difficulty with the standard and requires constant practicing and support
For example, students and their families are now not seeing one letter grade for Math but instead a list of several Math standards with an M, P or E grade identified for each Math item, communicating specifically where the student has mastery and where the student may benefit from further growth.
This new undertaking of a more informative report card underpins the Success Plan 2028 vision of Chardon Schools as a model school district and the District's mission of continuing to work towards high achievement for all students.
To date, Chardon's implementation of standards-based report cards has included:
- 2022-23 School Year — Kindergarten
- 2023-24 School Year — Grades 1-2
Enhanced Communication and a Growth Mindset
The primary goals of the more nuanced standards-based assessments are to enhance communication and support a growth mindset.
Dr. Ed Klein
photo: Pastor Photography
Assistant Superintendent Ed Klein stated, "Traditional grades do not accurately reflect student progress. Our revised report card works to ensure that we are accurately communicating student progress with our students and families."
Mrs. Leigh Ann Ferguson
photo: Pastor Photography
Case-in-point — as early as Oct. 27 of this school year, Munson Elementary second-grade teacher Leigh Ann Ferguson shared evidence of one of her students connecting their standards-based report card to understanding of an identifiable area for growth.
Just one day after first-quarter report cards were released, the student chose to write in her dialogue journal:
“...I want to be better at math. I need to work on adding and subtracting within twenty…”
Screenshot of Munson Elementary Student's Dialogue Journal Entry, Oct. 27, 2023
Developmental Timeline
Chardon Schools research and development of standards-based reporting began in 2021 by a committee of Chardon elementary school teachers, interventional specialists and administrators working with consultants from the Educational Services Center of Northeast Ohio together with Dr. Klein.
Mr. Mathew Prezioso
photo: Pastor Photography
Munson Elementary principal Mathew Prezioso explained, "The goal of our committee was to give parents an accurate picture of where their children are with each standard. We have done this with the new report card. I have received much positive feedback from our families."
Up Ahead
With standards-based report cards now in place for K-2, the next phases of the rollout includes third-grade implementation in 2024-25. Fourth-grade teachers at Chardon Middle School will begin professional development in standards-based grading in 2024-25 for future implementation for their grade level.
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We Commit to High Achievement for All Students