The Process

The Why

In early spring of 2025, we announced that the district would be reviewing and updating report cards for students in grades K–8. Since that time, a dedicated team of educators from across the district has worked collaboratively to refine and redesign these tools.

Standards based reporting is not new to Nashoba. For more than ten years, Nashoba has used standards based reporting as the mechanism for communicating student progress. The updates to the current report card build on this strong foundation while ensuring that the tool more clearly reflects student learning outcomes in light of our ongoing curriculum development, adoption of high quality instructional materials, and need for consistency across grade levels.

The refinements strengthen the extent to which our report cards reflect student learning and growth, align with current curriculum development and high quality instructional materials, and support consistency across grade levels. In addition, the Social Behavior and Work Habits section has been updated to more closely mirror the Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies.

The Timeline

Throughout 2025, Nashoba undertook a comprehensive redesign of the K–8 report cards to ensure that families receive clear, consistent, and meaningful communication about student learning and growth. This work reflects our commitment to aligning reporting with high-quality instructional materials, clearly defined learning outcomes, and our Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies. Below is a timeline outlining how the redesign unfolded and the collaborative process that guided it.

Winter 2025

Report Card Working Groups for Grades 1–5 and Grades 6–8, made up of educators and administrators from across the district, meet for the first time. Work is guided by alignment to the NRSD Strategic Plan, including:

Strategic Objective #1: Strengthen culturally responsive home–school communication systems
Strategic Objective #2: Support all learners through clearly aligned curriculum and equitable instructional and assessment practices
Strategic Objective #3: Improve communication of student progress

Spring 2025

- Grades 1–8 Working Groups continue to meet, focusing on:
  - - Ensuring report cards clearly reflect student learning outcomes
    - Aligning reporting with ongoing curriculum development and high-quality instructional materials
    - Improving consistency across grade levels
    - Updating Social Behavior and Work Habits language to align with the Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies

Progress updates are shared with the School Committee and included in The Common

Summer 2025

Kindergarten Report Card Working Group begins, following the same process as Grades 1–8 during Summer Academy

The Teaching and Learning Department begins working with the Technology Department to get updated Report Cards for Grades 1-8 entered into PowerSchool

Fall 2025

Kindergarten Working Group concludes
Teaching & Learning and Technology teams collaborate to add Kindergarten Report Cards to PowerSchool and to finalize Grades 1-8 in PowerSchool
Report Card Road Show launches to ensure staff across elementary and middle schools receive training and support
Family Information Hub is developed to provide clarity and resources for families

Launch and next steps

New K–8 Report Cards officially launch, with Trimester 1 report cards securely sent via email on December 12, 2025
Updated Report Card Surveys will be distributed to K-8 families at the end of the 25/26 school year to collect feedback on the changes

Page updated

Report abuse