Setting a new standard: Bigfork Middle School could do away with letter grades

It might not be easy, but Matt Jensen believes it’s worth it.

Jensen, principal at Bigfork Elementary and Middle School, is proposing a change in the grading procedure at the middle school. He wants the district to adopt standards based grading for grades six through eight. In effect, it would remove traditional letter grades.

Bigfork School Trustees heard a first reading of proposal Aug. 13. The second reading is slated for Sept. 18. The third and final reading is scheduled for Oct. 23.

Seven people spoke against the proposal at last week’s board meeting. The board requested more information on what a report card will look like with standards based grading. Board members also want information on how students will make the transition from middle to high school, where letter grades will still be used. The elementary is using standards based grading “in part,” Jensen said.

Jensen proposed a gradual transition to standards based grading at the middle school, which will result in students being graded as novice (N), nearing proficient (NP), proficient (P) or advanced proficient (AP). Jensen envisions a pilot program in which standards based grading is used for reading and math in the third trimester of the upcoming school year. Full implementation would take multiple years.

Standards based grading is not a new idea, and is part of a national movement, Jensen said. He cited Kalispell and Hamilton as two middle schools in western Montana that currently use it. He said it is not related to the Common Core national learning standards that most states, including Montana, have adopted in recent years.

Standards based grading involves more detailed reporting on where a student is at in a number of subgroups within each subject. These include testing, quizzes, homework, completed assignments, behaviour, attendance, etc.

Wendy Miller was one of the seven who spoke against the proposal Aug. 13. Miller has children entering sixth and fourth grades and kindergarten. Wendy and her husband, Steve, moved to Bigfork from Charlotte, N.C., in 2010. After three years of having her students in a standards based grading program at Bigfork Elementary, Miller has seen enough.  

“It may work and be good for students who are failing or are struggling, but it doesn’t help your average or above average student because it takes away their ability to shine and motivation to do excellent work,” she said.

Miller’s son, Micah, is entering sixth grade. Micah said that only about 5 to 10 percent of his papers last year in elementary school had a letter grade. Only math papers would typically have a letter grade, such as P, he said. Other times he would receive only a note from his teacher that said, “Nice effort,” “Good job,” or “Love your expression,” Miller said. “It’s subjective and doesn’t tell me where he stands,” she said.

Miller said that one could get a A, B or C under a traditional grading system, but all of those grades could be a P under standards based grading. “Letter grades in middle school is meant to prepare them for high school, which prepares them for college,” Miller said. “Micah saw himself doing A level work and getting a P...and someone else doing C level work getting a P,” Miller said. “It’s been this way through fifth grade. I hoped it would be OK, and it hasn’t been OK.

“I’ve been a piano teacher for over 15 years,” she said. “If I want my piano students to push themselves and reach farther and higher, I have to give them a reason.”

Jensen said middle school staff have been working on curriculum realignment for several years. Last year the bulk of the staff supported the change to standards based testing, he said, adding that he doesn’t know one middle school teacher opposed to it.

Often times when a school has proposed a change to standards based grading, the teachers have fought it, Jensen said. That hasn’t happened in Bigfork, he said.

Miller said that all of the parents she’s talked to are opposed to the change except one. And two teachers told her that implementation of standards based grading is going to be a “nightmare,” Miller said. The teachers haven’t spoken out against the proposal because they are afraid of losing their job, she said.

There are a lot of misconceptions about standards based grading, Jensen said. Traditional letter grading is based on averages, which Jensen wants to get away from. “I want to substitute a numerical grade (i.e. 85 percent) for a much more detailed report.

“It’s a drastic increase in accountability for teachers and students,” he said. “With standards based grading, there are specific skills being measured and reported to parents instead of one given teacher’s opinion about the student. It’s accountability that I want to bring into our middle school.”

Jensen said isn’t opposed to encorporating a number, i.e. 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, along with standards based grading, “But I’m skeptical because when people see a letter (or number) grade they assume averaging.”

“I know it’s a confusing topic because people have their own history of getting traditional grades. If they can understand the heart of what we’re trying to do — ensure all students make measurable progress — it’s not a super complicated process,” he said. “I welcome the questions. I implore people to understand the concept before they make a judgment.”

Bigfork Schools Superintendent Cynthia Clary said she is undecided on whether to keep traditional grading or go with standards based grading.

Caleb Soptelean can be reached at reporter@bigforkeagle.com.