Parents and students at Falcon High School and the surrounding community are ready for a change. When standards based grading (SBG) was introduced at the high school three years ago, many were skeptical but were willing to see it implemented in hopes that it would work for our students. While it was well-intentioned, it has proven to be a detrimental transition for students, parents, and teachers alike. In theory, it should give students an opportunity to continually improve their grades, but that has not proven to be the case. Students' grades should reflect their hard work, but their efforts are being diminished by a flawed grading system. SBG does not fit well in our community where there is a high student-to-teacher ratio, and where many families are transitioning in and out of the area on a regular basis.
As students prepare to graduate, they are watching their GPAs suffer, and they wonder how this will translate onto their college applications. Parents are trying to understand and support the teachers, but are receiving conflicting explanations and little support. We would like Falcon HS to return to a traditional grading system that will be equal to other high schools and, in turn, equally viewed by other colleges and universities.
The concerns with SBG go well beyond students and parents currently at Falcon High School. Parents from the elementary, middle, and charter schools are also concerned about what type of grading system will be in place when their children begin high school. They are watching closely to see what changes FHS will make to decide if they will enroll their children there in the future or choose another path. Families want to stay to support their local schools, but we cannot stand behind SBG. So many are ready to leave the district (or have left already) if changes are not made.
Updates
November 7, 2014
The petition has reached two hundred and fifty signatures this morning. This level of engagement confirms that our community expects clarity and consistency in academic evaluation.
Reached 250 supporters
November 7, 2014
November 5, 2014
I have been reviewing the detailed feedback many of you provided regarding the challenges of the current grading system. These accounts illustrate the reality of our situation and provide essential context for our upcoming discussions with administration officials.
Reached 100 supporters
October 11, 2014
30 Comments
I am so unhappy with this grading system and watching my kids self esteem and grades go downhill is so depressing for a parent. I would like to see them get credit for everything that is expected of them and for the teachers to expect them to do their homework, instead of students knowing it only needs to be done if they want to retake a test. I do not believe this helps them for college. I also feel like the teachers are not wanting to help the kids and see them succeed. I want to see teachers that are encouraging and caring and loving my kids. I feel the teachers are ao busy still figuring out this grading system and don't like it that they don't know how to truly teach my kids.
this system puts our kids at a disadvantage in competing for spots at good colleges and scholarships. Please quit damaging their future prospects.
while I agree with the concept of SBG, it's been executed poorly here at Falcon...I'm really not interested in my student's GPA taking the hit while we, as a community and educational system, try to figure out a more optimal execution....
This grading system hinders students from advancing. For military kids, such as myself, that have to move into a system like this in junior/senior year - good luck meeting grad requirements.
I do hope to see things returned to a tradition grading system. I moved my child out of D49 to another school district primarily because of this grading system. I have personally experienced this type of grading with my other son who attends the middle school. One of his teachers came from Falcon High School and uses this grading system for her class. Needless to say I was completely unhappy with her and the grading and it has definately left a bad taste in my mouth. These kids deserve a better and more fair grading system. Lets help these kids succeed and not set them up for failure. Return the traditional grading system to Falcon High School!
Change back to the traditional system now!
Under the standards based grading I will LIKELY move my children to another school.
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Parents and students at Falcon High School and the surrounding community are ready for a change. When standards based grading (SBG) was introduced at the high school three years ago, many were skeptical but were willing to see it implemented in hopes that it would work for our students. While it was well-intentioned, it has proven to be a detrimental transition for students, parents, and teachers alike. In theory, it should give students an opportunity to continually improve their grades, but that has not proven to be the case. Students' grades should reflect their hard work, but their efforts are being diminished by a flawed grading system. SBG does not fit well in our community where there is a high student-to-teacher ratio, and where many families are transitioning in and out of the area on a regular basis.
As students prepare to graduate, they are watching their GPAs suffer, and they wonder how this will translate onto their college applications. Parents are trying to understand and support the teachers, but are receiving conflicting explanations and little support. We would like Falcon HS to return to a traditional grading system that will be equal to other high schools and, in turn, equally viewed by other colleges and universities.
The concerns with SBG go well beyond students and parents currently at Falcon High School. Parents from the elementary, middle, and charter schools are also concerned about what type of grading system will be in place when their children begin high school. They are watching closely to see what changes FHS will make to decide if they will enroll their children there in the future or choose another path. Families want to stay to support their local schools, but we cannot stand behind SBG. So many are ready to leave the district (or have left already) if changes are not made.
Updates
November 7, 2014
The petition has reached two hundred and fifty signatures this morning. This level of engagement confirms that our community expects clarity and consistency in academic evaluation.
Reached 250 supporters
November 7, 2014
November 5, 2014
I have been reviewing the detailed feedback many of you provided regarding the challenges of the current grading system. These accounts illustrate the reality of our situation and provide essential context for our upcoming discussions with administration officials.
Reached 100 supporters
October 11, 2014
30 Comments
I will be honest. I don't believe that the grades should be based solely on "hard work." The point of school is to know the material. That is the reason we take tests. My issue is that my grade suffers because teachers don't help. I have gone from a straight A student to a student with a D. That makes me want to cry. Honestly I did cry. I love learning. But if it this stressful, I stop learning the material and just learn to pass.
I am so unhappy with this grading system and watching my kids self esteem and grades go downhill is so depressing for a parent. I would like to see them get credit for everything that is expected of them and for the teachers to expect them to do their homework, instead of students knowing it only needs to be done if they want to retake a test. I do not believe this helps them for college. I also feel like the teachers are not wanting to help the kids and see them succeed. I want to see teachers that are encouraging and caring and loving my kids. I feel the teachers are ao busy still figuring out this grading system and don't like it that they don't know how to truly teach my kids.
this system puts our kids at a disadvantage in competing for spots at good colleges and scholarships. Please quit damaging their future prospects.
while I agree with the concept of SBG, it's been executed poorly here at Falcon...I'm really not interested in my student's GPA taking the hit while we, as a community and educational system, try to figure out a more optimal execution....
This grading system hinders students from advancing. For military kids, such as myself, that have to move into a system like this in junior/senior year - good luck meeting grad requirements.
I do hope to see things returned to a tradition grading system. I moved my child out of D49 to another school district primarily because of this grading system. I have personally experienced this type of grading with my other son who attends the middle school. One of his teachers came from Falcon High School and uses this grading system for her class. Needless to say I was completely unhappy with her and the grading and it has definately left a bad taste in my mouth. These kids deserve a better and more fair grading system. Lets help these kids succeed and not set them up for failure. Return the traditional grading system to Falcon High School!
Change back to the traditional system now!
Under the standards based grading I will LIKELY move my children to another school.
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I will be honest. I don't believe that the grades should be based solely on "hard work." The point of school is to know the material. That is the reason we take tests. My issue is that my grade suffers because teachers don't help. I have gone from a straight A student to a student with a D. That makes me want to cry. Honestly I did cry. I love learning. But if it this stressful, I stop learning the material and just learn to pass.