If grades are to accurately represent and communicate information about how well students are making progress toward the identified learning standards in each discipline, then the evidence used to determine grades must denote what students have learned and are able to do only in relation to academic achievement of the standards’ objectives. To allow other factors to influence grades, such as effort, participation, attitude, homework, and other behaviors, misrepresents students’ true learning attainment (Dueck, 2014).

As a result, report card grades are limited to academic factors (tests, quizzes, products, projects, rubric scores). Homework completion, low attendance, and/or inappropriate behavior are examples of nonacademic factors that are reported separately from standards-based grading to inform students and parents/guardians about the importance of developing positive academic effort and behaviors.

Reporting student progress is an essential part of the communication and partnership between home and school. It is the District’s responsibility to provide students and parents/guardians with information that accurately reflects a student’s level of performance, progress in meeting academic standards, and habits for school success. The District’s standards-based report card is designed to provide a “snapshot” of grade-level standards, and communicates an individual student’s progress toward independently meeting those expectations over the course of the school year. It also ensures more consistency among expectations from teacher to teacher and from grade to grade, and allows students to be more aware of what is expected of them while working in partnership with their teachers.

Elementary

Students of all grades receive report cards at regular intervals throughout the school year. Mid-term progress reports supplement the report cards for students in Grades 1-5. Students are evaluated for their academic work, social-emotional development, and work habits. Progress reports for kindergarten students are structured to share information about their progress with parents/guardians at regular intervals.

Middle School

Blackhawk uses four methods when reporting student progress in school to parents/guardians:

1. Mid-term progress reports are sent home to inform parents/guardians of student progress and how improvement can occur before the end of the grading period.
2. Report cards state grades for the grading period and report final grades for the year.
3. Special progress reports are sent out occasionally by teachers to inform parents/guardians of special situations that require immediate attention or indicate successful work in a project.
4. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held October 20 and February 16, and can also be arranged whenever parents/guardians would like to set up an appointment. When requesting a conference, please contact either the teacher or school office at 630-766-2601 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
5. Encore and P.E. grades are included on report cards.

Parents/guardians may call or email a teacher directly at any time during the year to discuss their child’s progress.