The Corvallis Middle Schools have created the following grading guidelines to address the requirements of the Oregon House Bill 4150 and the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 581-022-1670. Implementing a standards based/proficiency teaching, learning, and grading system is a process. Grading guidelines across the District, including Franklin MS, will be updated as we continue to plan, implement, and monitor our practice in an effort to prepare students for secondary and post-secondary experiences.
Pinnacle is an online system where teachers record assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests. Students and parents can check Pinnacle to view student grades. Click here to go to the pinnacle site.
Formative Assessment is an assessment for learning such as a practice assignment or other learning product that informs teachers of student progress. Examples of formative assessments include practice problems, group work, observations, and rough drafts. Our teachers often have students engage in practicing their learning such as journal writing, reviewing math facts, completing a reading log, or other skills that contribute to learning.
Summative Assessment refers to the assessment of learning and summarizes the development of learners at a particular point in time. Examples of summative assessments could include an assigned essay, learning projects, final papers, quizzes or end-of-unit test.
Standard Learning standards is a term used to describe education content we expect students to know or be able to do such as CCSS (Common Core State Standards), Next Generation Science Standards, Oregon State Standards; and/or professional/industry standards.
Rubric (aka scoring guide): A rubric is a scoring tool that shows the performance expectations for an assignment. A rubric divides the assigned work into parts and provides descriptions and varying levels. Rubrics can be used for a wide array of assignments such as papers, science labs, projects, oral presentations, or performances.
Purpose of Grading
The purpose of grading at Corvallis School District middle schools is to communicate how well students have achieved learning standards based on evidence gathered from assignments, assessments, or other demonstration of learning knowledge and skills. The most vital use of grades should be to guide future student learning and teacher instruction in a meaningful manner. Grades are intended to inform students, parents, and others about learning progress and to guide improvements when needed. –Thomas Guskey, Educator
Weighting of Academic Grades
All recorded academics are from the two categories of formative and summative assessment. Formative assignments and assessments will constitute no more than 40% of a grade. Summative assessments will constitute at least 60% of the grade. In most math classes the balance will be 30% formative/70% summative.
Work completion, preparedness, and participation are essential skills. A no-penalty policy for late work was implemented last year with counterproductive results. Students, who submitted work late consistently, missed opportunities to receive timely feedback as well as keep pace with current instruction. The late work policy has been adjusted to promote more cohesive learning by encouraging students to stay current with their work load. In support of students’ developmental needs, 6th and 7th grade students will be afforded 2 late assignment tickets per course. Make-up work due to illness or vacation will generally be equal to the number of days the student has missed.
Zeroes will be used for any assignment not submitted or student refusal to participate. In standard 100% scales, 50% will be the lowest score entered for any completed assignment turned in.
Students will be provided multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency toward standards throughout the year. Unlike in 2013-14, retakes will not be offered. This year’s change in grading policy supports students to progress through courses without getting bogged down or overwhelmed by having to focus on past and current content simultaneously.
Teacher Responsibility to Record/Update
Teachers will update their online Pinnacle grade book weekly to reflect all turned-in student work.
A-F– Traditional grading scale
T—Turned in, not graded
Extra credit will not be assigned. As previously stated, the grade is required to be a reflection of knowledge and skills against learning standards, thus additional effort needs to be connected to the standards.