WASD Target Based Grading Information

Academic Grades and Reporting

Wautoma Area School District Proficiency Scale

Target-based grading uses the WASD Proficiency Scale to communicate student performance in relation to identified WASD Learning Targets. Students will receive ongoing feedback related to each learning target throughout the duration of the course. This feedback will provide clear communication to ensure students know what learning targets they are expected to meet, how they are doing relative to the learning targets, and how to progress to the next level of proficiency.

For each learning target, students will receive feedback using the WASD Proficiency Scale below.

Formative and Summative Assessment

There are two categories for assessment: formative and summative. Formative assessments provide opportunities for practice, whereas summative assessments measure student proficiency.

Formative assessments are used for the learning process to help the teacher and student understand how a student is progressing toward proficiency on the identified learning targets and to determine the next steps for instruction. Formative assessments are important but are not used in grade calculation.

Summative assessments provide evidence of student learning to determine a student's proficiency on the learning target. Summative assessments are used within grade calculations.

Feedback

Specific and timely feedback is an essential component to maximize student progress and learning. Feedback will be provided in an appropriate time frame relative to the task.

Feedback assists students in knowing what learning targets they are expected to meet, how they are doing relative to the learning targets, and how to progress to the next level of proficiency. Final feedback to students and parents regarding the assessed learning targets will be provided through Infinite Campus.

Reassessment

We believe academic scores should be used to guide improvement and reflect students' current understanding of the learning target. We are committed to providing students opportunities to demonstrate their increased understanding of a learning target through reassessment. Reassessment procedures have been constructed within each department/grade level to facilitate the reassessment process. In general, in order to be eligible for reassessment, relearning must occur after the initial summative assessment.

Students are still expected to turn in completed work in a timely manner.

Elementary Academic Reporting (K-5)

Based on the evidence provided from summative assessments, a student's growth toward proficiency on each learning target will be assessed as proficient, approaching, or beginning in the core academic areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. At the end of a grading period, the most recent score of each learning target will be communicated to students and parents on the report card.

At the elementary level, we believe in fostering students' growth mindset in the academic areas of music, art, and physical education. Because our primary goal at the elementary level is to develop a love and an interest in the future study of these areas, we feel it is not beneficial to provide WASD Learning Target scores in these areas. Students in art, music, and physical education will receive only formal feedback on the work and people skills they exhibit while participating in these courses.

Secondary Academic Reporting & Grade Calculation (6-12)

At the secondary level, students will be given letter grades. At the high school level a cumulative GPA will continue to be calculated each semester.

Student grades will be determined by the assessment of each learning target. At the end of a grading period, the most recent score of each learning target assessed will be calculated into a scale score average. The scale score will be converted to a letter grade as shown on the table below.

*Wautoma High School continues to offer a wide range of dual enrollment courses to all students. These courses are courses offered through post-secondary institutions of learning such as Fox Valley Technical College or Northcentral Technical College. As these courses are governed by course policies at the post-secondary institution, some may be required to use a traditional grading structure and not a TBG approach. These policies will be communicated to parents/guardians through course syllabi.

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