Burkburnett ISD transitioning to new grading system
By: David Gonzalez
Updated: February 13, 2013
The Burkburnett Independent School District is transitioning from a traditional 100 point grading scale to a four point grading scale.
Missy Mayfield, Director of Curriculum and Learning Management, says the new grading system is being used in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade classes but only the kindergarten classes are seeing the new grading scale on their report cards.
For example, in Kristi Miller's kindergarten class at I.C. Evans Elementary School, students are already learning about the first president of the United States.
However, when it comes to grading their work, the 100 point grading scale won't be used.
"It's easier to implement the four, three, two, one," Miller says. "Starting with kindergarten, I think it's going to be better for them as they get older."
Miller believes Burkburnett ISD's decision to move from the traditional grading system to Standards Based Grading will help students in the future.
"It's getting more and more rigorous all the time; school in general. It's nice that I can give the kids expectations. They know where they need to be," Miller says.
I.C. Evans Elementary School Principal Michelle Wiese says parents were at first concerned about the change.
Wiese says, "Once we talked through it and had staff development on it, they've realized the benefits of moving to the four point scale. Standards Based Grading is more about the student learning instead of the grade on the 100 point scale."
In addition, Mayfield says the old system has its flaws.
"We don't want to get caught up in the number as much as we want to know if the child is mastering at a proficient level," Mayfield says.
Burkburnett officials all agree that the four point grading scale will help students know exactly in which areas they're excelling and which ones need work.
"The kids are benefitting and the parents are benefitting because we can give them better information on what their kids are learning in school and what they're able to do," Wiese says.
Mayfield does not think high schools in Burkburnett will use the four point grading system in report cards because of the way some education mandates are in place for top graduates.
