FORT WORTH, Texas — In the coming years, parents of students in the Fort Worth Independent School District will see a change in their children's report cards.
Instead of using the traditional percentage and letter grade, the district is planning to switch to a new "standards-based" grading model that shows parents how students are performing against state standards instead of a raw percentage for each subject. Fort Worth ISD officials told WFAA the changes were being phased through in three stages:
- Phase 1 - Planning and Preparation (Current Year 2023-2024):
- Conduct a thorough review of the standards-based report card model and its alignment with our educational goals.
- Engage with educators, parents, and other stakeholders to gather feedback and address concerns via surveys and Focus Groups.
- Develop training programs for teachers to ensure a smooth transition.
- Phase 2 - Pilot Programs (Next Academic Year 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, if needed):
- Implement pilot programs in select grades or subjects to test the effectiveness of the standards-based
report card.
Gather feedback from teachers, students, and parents involved in the pilot programs.
Identify and address any challenges or adjustments needed based on the pilot outcomes.
We believe this phased approach will enable us to proactively address any challenges and refine the standards-based report card model to best serve our students and community.
- Implement pilot programs in select grades or subjects to test the effectiveness of the standards-based
- Phase 3 - Refinement and Full Implementation (Following Academic Year 2025-2026 or 2026-2027):
- Refine the standards-based report card model based on insights gained from the pilot programs.
- Provide additional training and support for educators to enhance their understanding and implementation
of the new system.
Gradually roll out the standards-based report card across all grades and subjects.
District officials told WFAA the focus for this year has been on the pre-K report card and "information has been conveyed with opportunities for input during all District advisory groups." Informational sessions for parents and training for staff will be conducted later this year, the district said.
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