What Parents Need to Know!
LCPS is committed to quality assessment and grading practices whereby all teachers can design assessments that align with standards and provide feedback to improve student learning. Loudoun County Public Schools is continuing to implement its web-based, integrated instructional management system called CLARITY.
QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND GRADING PRACTICES Assessment of student learning is an essential component of the teaching and learning process. Quality assessment involves timely feedback embedded in the learning experience. Summative assessments are linked to standards within content areas.
QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND GRADING PRACTICES Quality assessment ensures that students are involved in and parents are informed of the process. Grades reflect student mastery, multiple efforts, and student growth within a grade level or subject area. Learning progressions are available for use as scaffolds for learning and instruction.
Assessment : The methods, strategies and tools used to measure and determine the extent to which students have learned content, concepts and skills. Three types: Diagnostic Formative Summative
Diagnostic Assessment: Assessment occurring PRIOR to learning that is used by teachers to identify the source of a student’s strengths and weaknesses. Formative Assessment : Assessment occurring DURING the learning that is used by teachers to adapt their instruction and used by students to determine their current progress. Summative Assessment : Assessment occurring AFTER the learning that documents how much learning has occurred at a point in time.
Standards : a set of minimum learning expectations defined by VDOE; Unpacking a standard : occurs when a teacher breaks down the big concepts into smaller units to focus on one specific component of learning. Learning Target (LT): A Learning Target is a “specific” statement of what the students should know, understand, or be able to do for an unpacked component of the standard.
To communicate to students/parents that assignments, assessments and grades tied to intended learning (standards, learning targets). To improve precision of measurements of learning related to grades.
3rd , 4th and 5th Grading Key Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Progress Indicators A = Outstanding E = Exceeds Standard B = Very Good M = Meets Standard C = Satisfactory P = Progressing Towards Standard D = Needs Improvement B = Performing Below Standard F = Not Performing 3rd , 4th and 5th Grade Progress Indicators 4 = Exceeds Standard Key for Characteristics That Affect 3 = Meets Standard Learning 2 = Progressing Towards Standard O = Outstanding 1 = Below Standard S = Satisfactory N = Needs Improvement
Weighting Assessments weighted zero are not calculated into the letter grades; Assessments weighted 1 are used to inform the letter grades; Letter Grades An average of all assessments weighted with a 1 or 2;
Report Card Topic Statement listed beneath each content area on the report card describe the essential knowledge or desired student behaviors expected at each grade level. These provide you with a clearer understanding of what your child knows and is able to do. If a topic statement is not assessed during a quarter, a dot (•) will be inserted into the cell. (Screen shot of report card)
Overall Subject Letter Grades (Grades 3-5) An average of all assignments that have a weight of 1.
Report Card Topic Statements (Grades K-5) All assignments (formative and summative) linked to an SOL, regardless of weight, factor into the topic statements. All Virginia Standards of Learning feed into report card topic statements.
Grading Assessment About percentages About performance Does not provide prescriptive Provide prescriptive feedback feedback Usually takes a single snapshot of Looks at multiple views of student student knowledge performance Is often used to compare and sort Focuses on individual performance students
The use of a standards-aligned report card communicates more clearly to parents and students their progress based on the skills and concepts to be mastered.
Rubrics and Learning Targets: • provide students with clear goals • allow them to be able to articulate the expectation • and compare their progress relative to the standard .
Rubrics and Learning Targets: provide students with clear goals; • allow them to be able to articulate the expectation; • and compare their progress relative to the standard . •
Assignments/Assessments will be posted in CLARITY as assigned; Three types of assignments in CLARITY: Diagnostic Formative Summative ▪ All summative assignments will include a scoring guide/rubric;
Summative: will be weighted 1 or 2 Formative: weighted zero Diagnostic: weighted zero May include homework; Homework is not graded;
Assignments may include the same descriptors: S – Geography Test – Regions of the U.S. ▪ S = Summative (All summative assessments inform the letter grades and report card topic statements) D – DRA score ▪ D = Diagnostic F – Draft of persuasive essay ▪ F = Formative (All formative assessments inform the report card topic statement)
Grades and scores will updated at least every 10 instructional days; Student papers will have a 1-4 indicator – consistent with CLARITY scoring; All summative assessments will have the opportunity for a 4;
Opportunity for retesting to meet expectations - 3; Comments;
Complete the Access Request Form – return to the school office; Parent Information Verification (PIV) Sent home on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 with students; Will include CLARITY portal login address Access is limited to primary contact within Student Information System; Portal closes in June;
Security Requires student ID and provided password Change password DO NOT SHARE Help If lost or forgotten, call school office. You will need: ▪ Student number ▪ Child’s first and last name ▪ Street address
Log in; Reports; How do I make sense of this information? Emails to teachers;
Parent Portal Initial View Upcoming assignments broken down into: Overdue Assignments Assignments Due Today Upcoming Assignments Course Grades
Class Reports Student Assignment Report Student Missing Assignment
Options
Elementary Email Notification options: Parents have the ability to receive email notifications as often as daily based on the data in their child's courses. The reports they can receive include: Grade Summary Student Assignments Automatic Grade Notification - notifies the parent when a quarter/course grade falls above or below a point level.
Portal opens on October 3 for parents of students in grades 3-5; Portal opens January 22, 2013 for parents of students in grades K-2; Questions???
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