Standards Based Grading

  • As part of the Danville District No. 118 Strategic Plan, the district implemented a Standards Based Report Card aligned to Illinois Learning Standards for kindergarten through eighth grade.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a standards-based report card?

    The job of a report card is to clearly, fairly, and objectively communicate how a child is doing in school. A standards-based report card tells specifically how a child is doing in school and which areas need improvement. All teachers in a grade level measure student learning against set criteria. This is different from a traditional report card which gives a single letter or number grade for broad subject categories. A standards-based report card puts the emphasis on learning, rather than on comparisons among students. A standards-based report card gives concrete information the teacher and you can use to assist your child and separates academic performance from work habits and personal characteristics.

    Where do the “standards” come from?

    In 2010, Illinois adopted the new Common Core Standards (New Illinois Learning Standards) and, in 2012-2013, Danville District No. 118 implemented new reading and math curriculum based on those standards.

    Why is Danville District 118 utilizing Standards-Based Report Cards?

    Standards Based Report Cards are able to provide parents, students, and teachers with much more specific information than a traditional grading system does. In the traditional system, grades from all types of measures assessing many different standards and elements are averaged together to obtain one score for a subject area. In a standards-based grading system, teachers are able to communicate to students and parents specific progress on individual elements of the standards. This information allows parents, teachers, and students themselves to target areas for improvement and establish goals for their learning.

    How does this affect students?

    We know that all children can learn and succeed. The Standards Based Report Card will make it easier for all students to know what success in school looks like and to target learning needs. This is no different for special education students. The better information we have about student learning, the more improvement we can make together. Students in special education will continue to receive quarterly updates on their progress toward IEP goals.

     *The Standards Based Report Card reports a student’s progress towards the most essential standards in each grade level.