Competency-Based Grading in High Schools
Strategies for implementation
This research brief analyzes strategies used by five public school districts to implement competency-based grading in high schools. First the brief explores the implementation processes at each district. Then, the report profiles teacher training programs on competency-based grading and communication strategies employed to inform parents, teachers, and students about the shift to competency-based grading.
Key observations from our research
- Pilot competency-based grading in select high school courses before conducting school-wide implementation to collect feedback and improve the grading system.
- Contacts at all profiled districts identify their online grading system as an ongoing challenge during implementation.
- Administrators at multiple profiled districts identify teacher-to-teacher discussion as the most effective form of professional learning on competency-based grading.
- To secure parent buy-in for competency-based grading, communicate information about the grading system at multiple times and through both in-person and written channels.
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