Understanding Standards-Based Report Cards
Grades 4K - 5th
Starting with the 24-25 school year, MTSD has adopted a standards-based report card format and elementary student's report cards may look different than in the past. By focusing on priority standards, we aim to maximize the academic achievement and personal growth of each student. Below, you’ll find an explanation of how standards-based reporting works and how to interpret the student's report card.
Standards-Based Teaching & Learning
At MTSD, the purpose of standards-based learning is to maximize the academic achievement and personal growth of each student by focusing on the most important, transferable knowledge & skills within each course. These standards represent what students should know and be able to demonstrate in content area, and grade level by the end of the academic year.
Priority Standards
Priority standards are the key learning goals that educators focus on in each subject area. As the most important standards, they outline the knowledge and skills students need to master by the end of the school year. In our standards-based system, teachers emphasize these priority standards through focused instruction, targeted feedback, and regular assessment.
These standards are selected from our board-approved curriculum, which includes the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Math, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and Wisconsin State Standards for Social Studies, Art, Music, and Physical Education. In collaboration with teachers and specialists, priority standards are identified based on what is most crucial for student success at each grade level. These standards guide instruction, feedback, and assessment throughout the year, ensuring that students have the skills they need to live a life of infinite possibilities.
By focusing on these priority standards, we make sure that teaching is challenging and prepares students for the rigors of future learning. Through feedback and assessments, we ensure that students are progressing toward meeting or exceeding the standards.
Proficiency Scales
A proficiency scale is a tool used to inform your child’s progress in mastering each priority standard. The scale displays a collection of related learning targets and the scores that reflect a student’s current level of performance on each target.
The proficiency scale is written as an articulated learning progression, meaning it shows how students move from initial understanding to mastery over time.
Reporting on Student Learning in a Standards-Based System: Focus on Learning toward Mastery
Report cards are a valuable tool that provides insights into a student’s academic performance and overall social-emotional development. We want to offer guidance to help families understand and interpret the information provided on the student’s report card.
MTSD’s elementary report cards are standards-based to provide a clear picture of each student’s progress in terms of their level of proficiency relative to grade-level priority standards. Unlike traditional letter grades, which often combine test scores, homework completion, and class participation, standards-based reporting focuses solely on your child’s understanding and mastery of grade-level priority standards.
Standards-based learning also supports a student’s ongoing growth & development throughout the school year by tracking individual progress toward proficiency, allowing for targeted support and intervention in areas that need improvement. In a standards-based learning system, teachers provide clear and actionable feedback to students and parents about exactly where improvement is needed. This approach emphasizes growth and learning over time, providing a more detailed understanding of your child’s strengths and areas for improvement. It also allows teachers, parents, and students to identify specific standards and skills that need attention in order to achieve proficiency.
Each subject area contains multiple priority standards that outline what the student should know and be able to do at their grade level by the end of the school year. Instead of a single-letter grade, you will see a numerical value for each priority standard:
- 4 – Exceeds Standard (applicable in grades 3-5)
- 3 – Meets Standard
- 2 – Approaching Standard
- 1 – Performing Below Standard
It’s important to remember that students may not initially (in Trimester 1 or 2) earn a score of a 3, as they are all working at their own pace to master each priority standard. A score of 3 indicates that your child is meeting the end-of-year grade-level expectations. A score of 4 (applicable for 3rd-5th grade) signifies that a student has exceeded the grade-level knowledge and skills required for that standard. Teacher comments on the report card can provide further clarity on the student’s progress.
Students with Unique Learning Plans
For students with individualized learning plans, their report cards should reflect the progress they are making toward the prioritized grade-level standards when the supports and accommodations outlined in their plans are provided. Note that no additional qualifying statements/remarks referencing the plans will be included for students who are still working toward the same prioritized standards as all other students.