This put up initially appeared on the Otus weblog and is republished right here with permission.
Grading reform is messy, however it’s price it.
That was the central message from Jessica Espinoza and Alice Opperman of Emerson Public Colleges (NJ), who shared their decade-long journey implementing standards-based grading throughout their session at ISTELive+ASCD 2025.
What began as a deeply rooted effort to advertise fairness has grown right into a districtwide, cross-curricular system that blends trainer voice, readability for households, and help from the proper instruments.
Right here’s what they discovered alongside the best way, and why they’re nonetheless studying.
3 big takeaways for varsity leaders contemplating a shift to SBG
Readability begins with fewer, higher requirements
Within the early phases of their grading reform, Emerson tried to be complete; too complete, maybe. Their first report card included practically each New Jersey Widespread Core normal, which rapidly grew to become overwhelming for each lecturers and households. Over time, they shifted to specializing in broader, extra significant requirements that higher mirrored pupil studying.
“So roughly 10 years in the past, we began with a standard-based report card in grades Okay-6. Our report card at the moment listed just about each normal we might consider. We realized that we actually wanted to slim in on extra umbrella requirements or requirements that actually encapsulate the entire thought. We took away this bigger report card with 50 totally different requirements, and we went into one thing that was extra streamlined. That basically helped our lecturers to focus their vitality on what is actually necessary for our college students.”
–Jessica Espinoza, Principal, Emerson Public Colleges (NJ)
Lasting change doesn’t occur with out trainer buy-in
Grading reform can’t succeed until educators imagine in it. That’s why Emerson made intentional house for trainer voice all through the method; via pilots, surveys, trustworthy conversations, and, most significantly, time. The district embraced a long-term mindset, giving lecturers flexibility to experiment, mirror, and steadily evolve their practices as an alternative of anticipating instantaneous transformation.
“We had some consultants sit with groups of lecturers to work on these frequent scoring standards. They had been absolutely designed by lecturers, and their colleagues had the prospect to weigh in through the faculty yr in order that it didn’t really feel fairly so top-down…the lecturers had such a voice in making them that it didn’t really feel like we had been taking their autonomy away.”
–Alice Opperman, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Know-how, Emerson Public Colleges (NJ)
Progress means nothing if households can’t comply with it
Even with lecturers aligned and programs in place, Emerson discovered that household understanding was key to creating SBG really work. Whereas the district initially aimed to maneuver away from conventional letter grades altogether, ongoing conversations with dad and mom led to a reevaluation. By listening to households and adapting their method, Emerson has discovered a center floor, one which preserves the worth of standards-based studying whereas making progress simpler for households to grasp.
“5 years in the past, I’d have mentioned, ‘We can be completely finished with factors. We’ll by no means see a letter grade once more. It’s going to be so a lot better.’ However speaking to mother or father after mother or father has led us to this compromised place the place we’re going to strive it a bit bit in a different way to present the dad and mom what they want in an effort to perceive us, but additionally preserve that proficiency, competency, mastery data that we really feel is so useful as educators.”
–Alice Opperman, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Know-how, Emerson Public Colleges (NJ)
Nonetheless evolving, and that’s the purpose
For Jessica and Alice, grading reform has by no means been about arriving at an ideal system (and definitely not reaching it in a single day). It’s been about listening, studying, and bettering yr after yr. Their message to different faculty leaders? There’s nobody “proper” strategy to do SBG, however there’s a considerate, collaborative approach ahead.
Emerson’s story reveals that if you prioritize readability, belief your lecturers, and produce households into the dialog, the outcome isn’t only a higher report card.
It’s a greater studying expertise for everybody concerned.
How the proper grading resolution helps Emerson’s SBG efforts
Emerson put within the work, however sustaining grading reform at scale is almost unimaginable with out the proper instruments to help lecturers, monitor progress, and talk successfully with households.
- Streamlined requirements
Give attention to the requirements that matter most by constructing customized, district-aligned grading scales. The suitable platform makes it simple to group requirements, apply scoring standards, and visualize mastery over time. - Clear communication
Share clear, standards-aligned suggestions with households instantly in a platform. Academics can present well timed updates, rubric explanations, and progress experiences, multi function place. - Versatile grading instruments
Assist trainer autonomy with a number of evaluation sorts and scoring choices, together with factors, rubrics, and mastery ranges, all aligned to district-defined requirements.
For extra information on grading reform, go to eSN’s Academic Management hub.
