The Montrose County School District (MCSD) Grading Committee is proud to announce a series of five monthly one-hour Professional Development (PD) sessions aimed at delving into Research-based Grading Best Practices. These sessions will serve as a precursor to the extensive Grading Best Practices Professional Development scheduled for the 2024-2025 school year. The initiative is aligned with MCSD's commitment to district-wide grading calibration as outlined in the Strategic Plan. The overarching Grading objective of the Strategic Plan emphasizes the primary purpose of grading: "The primary purpose of grading is to clearly, accurately, consistently and fairly provide feedback and communicate learning progress and achievement to students and their parents. Current classroom grading philosophies and practices will be examined and a district grading philosophy end guidance document for all grade levels will be created and implemented."
- All sessions are optional for staff to attend; staff may attend one, more than one, or all as long as there is capacity (so please RSVP ASAP!)
- Session Overview: Each of the five one-hour sessions will serve as a introduction to “big ideas” on various topics in Grading Best Practices.
- Preparation and Preview: The sessions are designed to prepare for and preview the Grading Best Practices Professional Development slated for the 2024-2025 school year. Staff are encouraged to consider implementing changes with Grading Committee support and/or do further research.
- Attendance Cap: Limited to 32 staff members per session. RSVP is mandatory to secure a spot.
- Compensation: Staff attending these sessions will be compensated with two hours of off-contract time at a rate of $35 per hour.
- Pre-Work Requirement: Participants are expected to engage in one hour of pre-work before each PD session.
The MCSD Grading Committee is thrilled to offer this opportunity for professional growth and development. By fostering a shared understanding of grading best practices, MCSD aims to enhance the quality and consistency of feedback provided to students and their parents.
For more information, please contact John Steele (john.steele@mcsd.org) or Nikki Corn (nikki.corn@mcsd.org).
*Note: Additional logistical details such as venue specific "pre-work" will be included in subsequent communications directly sent to staff members who have RSVP'ed.
Please check out the link below to see the session topics and RSVP – seats are limited, so RSVP ASAP!
Grading Best Practices PD RSVP Form