Target-based Grading in Collaborative Teams: 13 Steps to Moving Beyond Standards

In order to make grading and reporting practices more meaningful and appropriate, schools must design core instruction to reflect both academic standards and specific academic and behavioral targets that clearly indicate what students must know and what they must be able to do. The authors experience shows that taking this approach positively impacts teaching and learning. This six-page, quick-reference laminated guide is designed to help schools move beyond standards to target-based grading and reporting. In 13 clear steps, it walks collaborative teams through the process of: Prioritizing standards and breaking them into specific learning targets; Creating assessments that accurately measure the relevant standards and learning targets; Designing and delivering instruction that specifically addresses learning targets; Administering and analyzing assessments; Reassessing when there is evidence of new learning; Reporting proficiency levels against learning targets using a summative scoring rubric. The guide includes examples of proficiency scales, proficiency targets, progress trackers, and summative rubrics.