Standards referenced Grading
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Our Transition to Standards-Referenced GRading
All elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Portland are transitioning to a Standards-Referenced Grading (SRG) system by the 2024-2025 school year. For the past three years, teacher teams and school leadership across the Archdiocese of Portland have prioritized standards, developed proficiency scales, and trained in research-based best practices for instruction and assessment.
Standards communicate what students should know and be able to do by the end of each academic year. Student mastery of grade-level standards is evaluated through proficiency scales and forms the basis of Standards-Referenced Grading. In this system, students are given multiple opportunities guided by teacher feedback to demonstrate mastery of individual standards.
Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, six schools (Cohort 1) will participate in an Archdiocesan Standards-Referenced Grading Report Card pilot. Data will be used along with the other Cohort 1 schools to inform improvements, training, and communication with all stakeholders. Additional information is provided below to support your understanding of this transition. Stay tuned for updates from your child's principal for information specific to individual schools. -
What is Standards Referenced Grading (SRG)?
Standards-referenced grading (SRG) is a system of grading where teachers provide feedback to students about their demonstrated level of understanding of a set of defined standards and levels of performance.
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A Letter from our Superintendent - CLick to Enlarge
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SRG Handbooks and GUiding Principals
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Articles, Books, and Other resources
- What does the research say about standards-based grading? Townsley and Buckmiller
- Fair Isn't Always Equal, Rick Wormeli
- Eight Essential Principals for Improving Grading, ASCD
- Grading for Equity, Joe Feldmen
- How Teachers Can Create and Equitable Grading System, Jennifer Gunn
- What's Wrong with Points, Justin Wells
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Guiding documentsSince true education must strive for complete formation of the human person that looks to his or her final end as well as to the common good of societies, children and youth are to be nurtured in such a way that they are able to develop their physical, moral, and intellectual talents harmoniously, acquire a more perfect sense of responsibility and right use of freedom, and are formed to participate actively in social life (Can. 795).
The dynamic profile of the Catholic school identity: The Catholic school lives in the flow of human history. It is therefore continually called upon to follow its unfolding in order to offer an educational service appropriate to the present times. The witness of Catholic educational institutions shows on their part a great responsiveness to the diversity of socio-cultural situations and readiness to adopt new teaching methods, while remaining faithful to their own identity (idem esse). By identity we mean its reference to the Christian concept of life (Source). The conciliar declaration Gravissimum educationis and the documents that followed it traced the dynamic profile of an educational institution through the two terms “school” and “Catholic.”
Standard 7: An excellent Catholic school has a clearly articulated, rigorous curriculum aligned with relevant standards, 21st-century skills, and Gospel values, implemented through effective instruction.Catholic schools will have a clear Catholic identity, making missionary disciples of Christ among the emerging generation and transforming the world.
Standards 8: An excellent Catholic school uses school-wide assessment methods and practices to document student learning and program effectiveness, to make student performances transparent, and to inform the continuous review of curriculum and the improvement of instructional practices.
Standard 9: An excellent Catholic school provides programs and services aligned with the mission to enrich the academic program and support the development of student and family life.
Forming Missionary Disciples of Christ:
A Strategic Plan for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Portland- Every archdiocesan high school and parish elementary school will employ the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, specifically “The Defining Characteristics of Catholic Schools,” and the Western Catholic Education Association accreditation process to have a common understanding of Catholic Identity.
- The Department of Catholic Schools in collaboration with each school within the Archdiocese of Portland will develop a clearly articulated curriculum.
- Each school will deliver a comprehensive, holistic educational experience.
- In collaboration with the Department of Catholic Schools, each school will provide professional development to form excellent teachers and school leaders.
- Each school within the Archdiocese of Portland will develop processes to welcome and serve students with exceptional learning needs under the direction of and in collaboration with the Department of Catholic Schools.
