During the 2007-2008 school year, all schools in the Diocese of Des Moines will pilot a new report card for grades K-5. It will reflect a standards-driven education in our diocese. This report card format summarizes three essential components that contribute to your child's educational success: the Standards, Work Habits, and Study Skills.
Achievement Levels (4,3,2,1 or N) will be used as the marks. A mark will show next to each item, under the Standard, that has been assessed during that quarter.
Some helpful definitions:
Standards: Our K-12 Diocesan Standards describe what a student should know and be able to do in a subject by the end of high school. On the Report Card, standards are labaled and found under each subject area.
Benchmarks: These are more specific than a standard and give detail as to what content needs to be mastered to meet a standard. On the Report Card, benchmarks are listed, but not labeled, under the standards.
Body of Evidence: Teachers determine student progress by gathering a body of evidence from student work such as classroom assignments, assessments, tests, and observations. By using the body of evidence, teachers can give student and parents a more accurate assessment of what level the student is performing at in relation to the standards and benchmarks.
Teachers will use a four-point scale each term to rate student progress under each benchmark:
4 - Exceeds grade-level expectation
3 - Meets grade-level expectation
2 - Progressing toward grade-level expectations
1 - Attempts:, not meeting grade-level expectation
N - Not assessed this term
An asterisk next to the rating (for example, 3*) indicates modified expectations for any student with a formal Individualized Education Plan (IEP), English Language Learner (ELL), or a 504 plan.
A "3" or "4" indicates that your child is very likely to meet the grade-level expectations by the end of the school year assuming the same level on continued improvement. A mark of "1" or "2" indicates some concern about a student's progress. Therefore, additional assistance may be required at school and at home, as well as increased student effort, to reach that grade-level expecation by the end of the school year. As parents, you are encouraged to discuss any concerns about student progress and performance with your child's teacher.
We value your feedback and encourage you to share your thoughts about this new format with your child's teacher, as it is a pilot. Your feedback will eventually influence how this new format is used in all our diocesan schools.