Making the Grade: A Systems Approach to Strengthening the Connection between Grades and Student Learning. Policy and Practice Brief
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| Title: | Making the Grade: A Systems Approach to Strengthening the Connection between Grades and Student Learning. Policy and Practice Brief |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Joel Knudson, California Collaborative on District Reform |
| Source: | California Collaborative on District Reform. 2025. |
| Availability: | California Collaborative on District Reform. Available from: American Institutes for Research. 1400 Crystal Drive 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202. Tel: 202-403-5000; Fax: 202-403-5001; e-mail: cacollaborative@air.org; Web site: https://cacollaborative.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation S.H. Cowell Foundation Silver Giving Foundation Stuart Foundation |
| Document Type: | Reports - Descriptive |
| Education Level: | Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Educational Change, Grading, Student Evaluation, Barriers, Educational Practices, Educational Improvement, Access to Education, Equal Education, Academic Achievement, Educational Resources, Educational Opportunities, Systems Approach, Elementary Secondary Education |
| Geographic Terms: | California |
| Abstract: | Across the country, districts are taking a fresh look at how grading practices can better reflect what students know and are able to do. These efforts have the potential to address longstanding problems with fairness and consistency. However, changes to traditional practices can also spark confusion, anxiety, and even backlash when members of a district community do not share an understanding of what the changes entail or the rationale behind them. Two new briefs from the California Collaborative on District Reform offer practical insights for educators who are exploring thoughtful ways to ensure grades reflect progress, provide meaningful feedback, and promote consistency. The first brief, "Making the Grade: A Systems Approach to Strengthening the Connection Between Grades and Student Learning," underscores the importance of addressing grading practices at a district level. It then explores strategies for cultivating a shared understanding of problems and goals, engaging constituents to craft solutions, and gathering feedback to inform the process of continuous improvement. The companion brief, "Making the Grade: Elevating Student Perspectives to Improve Grading Practices," emphasizes the value of student voice in identifying shortcomings of existing practices, crafting more effective approaches, and refining those approaches to better achieve goals for learning. The brief incorporates the perspectives of Sanger USD students to illustrate ways in which their insights can contribute to more effective change. Together, these briefs offer a starting point for conversations about how educators can make grading more meaningful and supportive of student success. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED678015 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED678015 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
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Tel: 202-403-5000; Fax: 202-403-5001; e-mail: cacollaborative@air.org; Web site: https://cacollaborative.org/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: N – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 12 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: SourceSuprt Label: Sponsoring Agency Group: SrcSuprt Data: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation<br />William and Flora Hewlett Foundation<br />Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation<br />S.H. Cowell Foundation<br />Silver Giving Foundation<br />Stuart Foundation – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Reports - Descriptive – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Change%22">Educational Change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grading%22">Grading</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Evaluation%22">Student Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Practices%22">Educational Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Improvement%22">Educational Improvement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Resources%22">Educational Resources</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Opportunities%22">Educational Opportunities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systems+Approach%22">Systems Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Across the country, districts are taking a fresh look at how grading practices can better reflect what students know and are able to do. These efforts have the potential to address longstanding problems with fairness and consistency. However, changes to traditional practices can also spark confusion, anxiety, and even backlash when members of a district community do not share an understanding of what the changes entail or the rationale behind them. Two new briefs from the California Collaborative on District Reform offer practical insights for educators who are exploring thoughtful ways to ensure grades reflect progress, provide meaningful feedback, and promote consistency. The first brief, "Making the Grade: A Systems Approach to Strengthening the Connection Between Grades and Student Learning," underscores the importance of addressing grading practices at a district level. It then explores strategies for cultivating a shared understanding of problems and goals, engaging constituents to craft solutions, and gathering feedback to inform the process of continuous improvement. The companion brief, "Making the Grade: Elevating Student Perspectives to Improve Grading Practices," emphasizes the value of student voice in identifying shortcomings of existing practices, crafting more effective approaches, and refining those approaches to better achieve goals for learning. The brief incorporates the perspectives of Sanger USD students to illustrate ways in which their insights can contribute to more effective change. Together, these briefs offer a starting point for conversations about how educators can make grading more meaningful and supportive of student success. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: ED678015 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678015 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Educational Change Type: general – SubjectFull: Grading Type: general – SubjectFull: Student Evaluation Type: general – SubjectFull: Barriers Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Practices Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Improvement Type: general – SubjectFull: Access to Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Equal Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Resources Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Opportunities Type: general – SubjectFull: Systems Approach Type: general – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education Type: general – SubjectFull: California Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Making the Grade: A Systems Approach to Strengthening the Connection between Grades and Student Learning. Policy and Practice Brief Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: California Collaborative on District Reform – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Joel Knudson IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Type: published Y: 2025 Titles: – TitleFull: California Collaborative on District Reform Type: main |
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