Standards-based reporting: clear communication about each child's learning
Parents of children who are in participating Standards-Based Report Card field-test classrooms and any other D41 parents are welcomed to give your feedback or ask questions regarding the SBRC. To do so please email us at REPORTCARD@D41.ORG
From Superintendent Ann Riebock For nearly two years, the District 41 Report Card Committee has been working on revising our report card. It was widely felt by parents, teachers, administrators and the Board of Education that our reporting practices were inconsistent, out-dated and did not provide enough information to parents about their child's progress.
The job of a report card is to clearly, fairly and objectively communicate how a child is doing in school. Standards-based report cards help students better understand what is expected of them in each subject area, provide teachers with a more specific tool to report what each child should know and be able to do during each grading period, and give parents a more detailed understanding of the academic expectations in each content area. The standards-based report card puts more emphasis on learning and less on comparisons among students because students are evaluated against standards rather than against each other.
This year, many of our teachers have volunteered to field-test a standards-based report card. What we learn from this will help us improve our processes and communication around standards- based reporting when we adopt the standards-based report card district wide in 2010-2011.
Many school districts across the country use standards-based reporting because it makes good academic sense. We know that transitioning to this system, like all change, will require our patience and commitment as we learn a better way to talk and think about student achievement. Information about standards-based reporting will be provided at Curriculum Night in the early fall. If your child's teacher will be field testing the new format this year, you will be invited to an information evening to take place in October.
As a district, we have worked hard over the last five years to align our curriculum and instruction to state and federal standards for what children should know and be able to do. Standards Based Report Cards are a natural evolution in this work, and will help all of us work more effectively toward sustained academic improvement.
Thank you for your continuing support and partnership in your child's education.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ann Riebock, Superintendent
Glen Ellyn School District 41 -- 793 N. Main St. Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 Ph: 630.790.6400
For nearly two years, the District 41 Report Card Committee has been working on revising our report card. It was widely felt by parents, teachers, administrators and the Board of Education that our reporting practices were inconsistent, out-dated and did not provide enough information to parents about their child's progress.