In my Science classes this year, I will be using a progressive grading and marking system derived from sound research and focused on the best interests of all of my Science students.

This system is based on one idea:

A student's grade must represent only their level of mastery with the state-mandated Science content.

Historically, student grades (in the form of quarter averages reported on interim reports, online tools such as SPAN, and report cards) have come to include many different types of information. A student's average has measured their classroom behavior, attitude, personality, and work ethic. All of these behavioral measurements are important and should be communicated to parents, however, they limit the effectiveness of the grade by obscuring academic data.

In an effort to correct this problem, and in cooperation with disctrict-wide initiatives and our school administration, I am making use of an ABCi-type grading policy. This change will bring several impacts for students and parents:

• Formative assessments, homework, and other forms of practice will not be included in a child's grade. Feedback will be given to students to help them improve.
• Summative assessments (those assignments designed to determine the student's level of mastery at the end of a unit of study) will constitute the entire quarter grade for a student. These will include quizzes, tests, and some lab summaries.
• Students who show mastery at the minimal level described in the state-mandated curriculum will earn a C (numerically 77-84), and those who show grade-level-appropriate comprehension will earn a B (85-92). Students who show extensive above-grade-level understanding of required concepts will earn an A (93-100).
• Students who do not demonstrate minimum-level mastery on summative assessments will receive a grade of Incomplete.
• All students will have multiple opportunities to retake graded (summative) assessments. The highest earned score will be the only one that factors into their averages. This will ensure that the student's average continuously represents their highest level of mastery on a given topic.
• No extra credit will be given for any reason as this would artificially inflate the grade, giving parents and students a false impression of the student's level of mastery.
• Comments, on SPAN and interim reports/report cards, will be used extensively to give students and parents detailed feedback about work-related behaviors such as homework completion and focus in class.
• A detailed checklist will be included with report cards that will inform parents about the development of specific study/work skills, apart from mastery of the curriculum.

The ultimate goal is for the letter grade that a student earns to represent only the extent to which that student has learned the course content. All other information that would be critical for parents and students to monitor will be communicated via other means. Student progress will be measured by students and by the instructor (me) as a unit progresses, allowing instruction to be customized to the needs of the class. Assignments that build understanding and check progress will not be a part of the reported grade.

I hope that you can see how this ABCi system will benefit students and parents. I welcome your questions and feedback, so feel free to send me an email.