1. What is Standards-Based Reporting?

A system of assessing and reporting student progress towards mastery (proficiency) of meaningful, specific skills and goals derived from the standards.

All SBR report cards include specific clusters of standards in all content areas. They provide an overview of the standards relating to the knowledge and skills your child should meet by the end of the year. The following scale will be used to reflect your child's progress towards meeting each cluster of standards.

 

The Standards-Based Reporting Scale is as follows:

Earning a “E” means the student has advanced understanding and exceeds grade-level expectations. A “E” is difficult to obtain and indicates unusually high achievement.

Earning a “3” means the student has proficient understanding and meets grade-level expectations. A “3” is something to be CELEBRATED!

Earning a “2” means the student has basic understanding and partially meets grade-level expectations. A “2” indicates that a child may need extra help or time to understand a concept or skill.

Earning a “1” means the student has minimal understanding and does not meet grade-level expectations. A student receiving a “1” may need interventions in order to meet grade-level expectations if progress is not being made.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1. Why do the expectations for a "3" change each trimester?

In a standards-based system, the "goalposts" move as the year progresses. A "3" in Trimester 1 means your child has mastered the foundational skills taught in the fall. To earn a "3" in Trimester 2, they must master the new, more complex concepts introduced in the winter. If the expectations stayed the same all year, we wouldn't be capturing your child's continuous growth toward the end-of-year New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS).

2. My child received a "3" in Trimester 1 but a "2" in Trimester 2. Does this mean they are falling behind?

Not necessarily. This is a common "growth dip." It usually means the student was successful with the introductory material but is still practicing the more advanced skills introduced in the second trimester. They are still "Approaching" the new, higher goal. As they gain more practice, they are expected to move back toward a "3."

3. Why are some sections of the rubric grayed out or marked "N/A"?

Education is a building process. Some standards (like complex long division or specific social studies units) are not introduced until later in the year. We do not grade students on material that hasn't been taught yet. Those "goalposts" haven't been set up yet!

4. Is a "4" the same as an "A"?

No. In the traditional system, an "A" often meant "perfect on the test." In our system:

• A "3" is the goal. it means the student is exactly where they should be for their grade level.
• A "4" is rare. It is reserved for students who independently apply the grade-level standard to higher-level, more complex tasks, or who are consistently working above grade-level expectations.

6. How can I help my child move from a "2" to a "3"?

Look at the specific descriptors in the rubric for the current trimester. The rubric acts as a "map." It shows you exactly which skill is the next step in their development. Your child’s teacher can provide specific activities tailored to that "missing link."