Townsend Elementary to Pilot Standards-Based Grading
 | Author:
Linda Kent, MT 43 News Staff Reporter
MT43 News Correspondent |
Linda Kent
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
School Board 03.12.24
Elementary Principal Christina Hartmann shared plans to pilot standards-based grading for students in kindergarten through fifth grades for the 2024-25 school year during the March 12 Townsend Schools Board of Trustees meeting. Information about the change was also shared with parents during the K-2 parent-teacher conferences on March 19
Standards-based grading measures student performance in specific areas of reading and math against “power” standards: what a child is expected to be able to do in each subject area at the end of a grade level. Montana’s Office of Public Instruction (OPI) sets the state standards. Standards at each level for English Language Arts, which includes reading, can be found at OPI’s website here: https://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/K-12-Content-Standards/English-Language-Arts-Literacy-Standards#97822720-montana-ela-standards
Hartmann used the example of where kindergarten students stand relative to being able to count to 100 by the end of that year of school to describe a math power standard.
“We’ll be able to tell parents exactly what a child knows,” Hartmann said.
A sample grade report provided to parents explains that students will receive a numeric assessment of their progress toward each power standard:
● 3 - Consistently Demonstrates
● 2 - Sometimes Demonstrates
● 1 - Not Yet Demonstrating
● N/A - Taught but Not Assessed.
While grades will be reported at the “power” standard level, teachers will also track student progress on the sub standards leading up to the reported skill, Hartmann said in a later interview.
Using the example of the second-grade reading power standard, “Use a variety of strategies to decode grade level words in isolation and in context,” on the sample report, grade reports would show parents if and how consistently their child demonstrates that skill. The child’s teacher might also be evaluating the student’s skill with specific strategies.
For the spring of 2023-24, standards-based for reading will be presented alongside traditional grade reports. Based on parent and staff feedback, the pilot would move forward with the proposal of a change to the district’s grading policy for elementary students to allow progress toward reading standards to be reported during the 2024-25 school year.
In a related interview, Superintendent Susie Hedalen said changes to state law made by Senate Bill 8 (SB8) in 2023 increased schools’ flexibility to use standards- and proficiency-based progress reporting of student achievement.
Hartmann said in a separate interview that in addition to evaluating the effectiveness of the reading pilot, her team will also be looking at the implementation of standards-based grade reporting for math during the 2025-26 school year.
At this time, Hartmann said, there is no initiative to change grade reporting for the middle or high school.
Also on March 12:
● Trustees tentatively approved the addition of high school baseball as an activity for the 2024-25 school year (see related story). Those proposing the addition will need to raise an estimated $20,000 in start-up and general costs for the first year of the program. Should the program prove popular and successful, the board will continue the sport, providing funding for 2025-26 and beyond.
● Citing state open-meeting law requirements that live-streamed public meetings allow for real-time public comment and response, trustees voted to end live-streaming board meetings via YouTube in favor of a video to be posted on the school website within 24 hours of meetings.
● Board Chairman Jason Noyes clarified that the current trustee election is for two, three-year terms and one, one-year term. Candidates must file for one of the three. The three-year seats are currently held by Noyes and board member Vanessa Flynn; Daniel Truesdell holds the one-year seat.
● Long-time Townsend educators Kim Gilligan, Wendy Gravely, and Allan Sevareid will retire at the end of this school year. Also leaving the district are assistant volleyball coach Jennilee Bird and custodian Steve Ojeda.
● Radio station KDGZ will convert to a streaming-only format in the coming months. Superintendent Susie Hedalin said, “It seems financially responsible to let the radio go,” as county Disaster and Emergency Services no longer has a need for a live radio broadcast platform and the low response to surveys of listener behavior. Music and live sports broadcasts will still be available via a streaming app. High school media classes will also utilize the streaming platform for classes.
● Community and school staff are invited to join the board’s second strategic planning session from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, in the community. The second session will focus on identifying a long-term vision for the district and significant goals.
