Parent Report Card Guides
Click the Parent Report Guides below for additional information to interpret your child's report card.
In the Platte County R-3 School District, we believe student achievement occurs through clearly defined
standards and authentic learning opportunities. We strive to provide accurate, meaningful, and timely
feedback to both students and parents throughout the learning process. Reporting of student achievement
reflects student progress toward mastery of key academic concepts and identifies multiple pathways to
deeper learning.
What is standards-based grading?
Standards-based grading communicates how students perform on a set of clearly defined learning targets
called standards. The purpose of standards-based grading is to identify what a student knows, or is able to
do, in relation to those learning targets - as opposed to simply averaging grades/scores over the course of
the grading period, which can mask what a student has learned or not learned.
Why standards-based grading?
Standards-based grading reports what students should know and be able to do within each content area at
each grade level. The real-time monitoring of student performance reflects a more accurate picture of
student achievement. Additional reasons for standards-based grading include:
- Other methods of grading do not accurately indicate what a student knows and is able to do.
- Students will be able to explain what they learned or did not learn, rather than recite a percentage.
- It can benefit all learners - students who struggle and students whose learning is accelerated.
Students’ progress towards standards can assist staff in determining intervention or enrichment
opportunities.
- Parents are provided information on specific standards while receiving meaningful feedback.
How does standards-based differ from traditional grading?
A standards-based grading system measures a student’s mastery of grade-level standards by prioritizing the
most recent, consistent level of performance. A student who may have struggled at the beginning of a
content or course when first learning new material may still be able to demonstrate mastery of key
content/concepts by the end of the school year.
In traditional grading systems, a student’s performance for an entire quarter is averaged together. Early
quiz scores that were low would be averaged together with more proficient performance later in the course,
resulting in a lower overall grade than current performance indicates. Standards-based report cards also
separate academic performance from work habits/behavior in order to provide parents an accurate view
of a student’s progress in both areas. Effort, participation, cooperation, and attendance are reported
separately, not as a part of academic performance.
How are my student’s “grades” determined?
A student’s performance on a series of assessments will be used to determine overall mastery, much as it
has in the past. The difference will be reporting of mastery levels indicated by a number scale instead of
letters. Levels of achievement will be clearly defined using standards-based scoring
guides. Practice assignments and homework will serve primarily as a source of feedback and instructional
support for both students and teachers rather than “grades.”
What will the report card look like?
The report card will seek to provide meaningful feedback so both students and parents can track progress
toward mastery of key academic concepts, as well as reflect upon strengths and weaknesses. Although
many topics have been introduced during first quarter, only a select few have been assessed to show
student progress towards mastery on grade level standards.
Will my student still receive teacher comments on his/her report card?
Yes. Individualized feedback is an essential component of standards-based grading. Effective feedback is a
more useful source of information than simply assigning a numeric value or letter grade to student work. A
goal of using standards-based grading is to improve communication between students, parents, and
teachers regarding student achievement.
How will I access my student’s report card?
Families who have an email on file with the district will receive the student report card as a PDF through
email at the conclusion of each quarter. Families who do not have access to email will receive a paper copy. Double-check with your child’s
building regarding the distribution of paper copy report cards. Copies of past report cards can be found in the parent portal of Powerschool under "Student Reports" when using a browser.
Where can I find more information regarding the learning targets for my student?
We encourage all parents to be informed regarding the academic content and concepts students will learn
each year in school. Please see the Parent Guides to the Report Card above for more specific details to each of the learning targets outlined on the report card.
What if I have additional questions?
Please visit with your child’s classroom teacher about learning targets and standards-based grading during
your scheduled fall conference, as well as with the building principal. Teachers can be reached by email or phone throughout the year should you have questions about your child's achievement. Should you need
Dr. Jen McClure
Director of Elementary Education
816-858-5420