How and what schools report as grades is important. Academics argue that traditional grading reduces teaching effectiveness and the accuracy of reporting (Marzano & Heflebower, 2011). Many education experts advocate for standards-based grading (SBG) as a research-based response (Link & Guskey, 2022; O'Connor, 2018; Townsley et al., 2019).…

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of quantitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of standards-based grading. The purpose of this study was to compare college students' GPAs and their perception of college preparedness to determine if there was a significant difference between students graduating from traditional grading high…

This study explored the relationship between K-8 teachers' current usage and engagement of curriculum and instructional practices, assessment practices, and feedback practices through the implementation of standards-based grading practices. The theoretical works of Bobbitt (1924), Bloom (1956), and Sadler (1989) framed this study. A digital survey…

In this qualitative phenomenological research, the perspectives of secondary school administrators regarding the tenets of standards-based grading were explored. This research sought to expand the knowledge of understanding the views held by secondary school administrators regarding grading practices as a means to further improve how student…

This paper presents a qualitative, multisite comparative case study from two midwestern high schools investigating high school stakeholder perceptions of grading practices experienced while transitioning from a system that primarily utilized historical grading practices to a more contemporary, reformed system implementing an iteration of…

In the secondary school setting, student engagement with mathematics has been declining for various reasons and for a significant amount of time. Gamification and standards-based grading are strategies that have the potential to improve student engagement with mathematics. The problem was poor student engagement with classroom activities in…

In recent years, there has been a shift back toward standardized assessment scores as an accountability metric for school districts from state policy makers. In response, Standards Based Grading has become a popular reform among school districts as a means to provide a greater predictability of student outcomes on standardized assessments.…

The purpose of grading is to measure progress and assess learning. As students' progress through school, a record of their progress and learning serves as a demonstration of knowledge gained. Educators, students, parents, and other stakeholders agree that grading, or assessment of some sort is necessary. The most prevalent grading system is the…

The purpose of this study was to measure parental understanding of standards-based grading and reporting practices, provide resources to address any identified knowledge gaps and support parents in utilizing the new grading system to foster student success. Study participants consisted of fourth and fifth-grade parents from Cedar Lane Elementary…

The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation case study on the impact of standards-based grading in a North Carolina school district. The implementation procedures and end products of grading reform were assessed using the CIPP model. Data from teacher questionnaires, principal implementation checklists, interviews, and…

Traditional grading practices have been in place for well over a hundred years and grades received served to identify in which subjects a student is "smart" or in which ones they are not (Dewitt, 2017). The problem with traditional grading is that it does not provide qualitative information on the difference between an A, B, C, D, or F…

Despite the substantial shifts in education to align classroom instruction and assessment to common academic standards, traditional grading practices remain largely associated with longstanding beliefs and practices. Research suggests that traditional grading may be an inequitable practice that inaccurately communicates student learning (Plourde,…

Teachers in American schools have substantial autonomy in grading students in their courses. Music teachers have historically used a plethora of grading criteria that include non-academic and non-achievement data such as participation, attendance, and behavior. This study aims to show how music teachers in the state of Missouri are calculating…

Grades are ubiquitous in schools and have significant consequences in students' lives. Over a century of research has reported variability in teachers' grade compositions and grading practices. Although measurement experts have advocated for grades to represent student achievement alone, teachers continue to include nonachievement factors, such as…

The focus of this study is on understanding the perceptions of middle school mathematics teachers about the implementation of standards-based grading (SBG). The study employs a multiple case design using four Connecticut middle schools where standards-based grading was in the process of being implemented. In each school, three mathematics teachers…