Western Kentucky school drops letter grades

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Associated Press

Story Created: Mon Sep 3, 2012 1:22 PM

Story Updated: Tue Sep 4, 2012 6:15 PM

CLARIFICATION:  It turns out only one school, Central Elementary, is making the change.
 
 
BENTON, Ky. (AP) - A western Kentucky county has eliminated letter grades at all six public elementary schools and is applying a standards-based grading system for the current school year.
    
Marshall County Schools' instructional supervisor Abby Griffy told The Paducah Sun all the county's elementary schools will assess student performance by describing levels of comprehension on what is being taught instead of assigning letters based on averaged grades.
    
Griffy says mistakes made early in learning are not counted against students who later demonstrate acceptable levels of understanding of the material under the new system.
    
Instead of averaging individual scores for homework and tests, students receive a comprehensive designation of Exceeds Mastery, Mastery, Partial Mastery or Non-Mastery.
    
The new system also removes process grades, such as getting planners signed, which can skew grades.

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