How SMS connects state and IBMYP grades

Summit Middle School teachers use a grading system that monitors student progress along two different continuums:

• progress/proficiency on the state content standards, using "standards-based grading" (SBG)
• progress/proficiency on the MYP assessment criteria, using IB rubrics for "criterion-referenced grading"

STANDARDS-BASED GRADING

The state content standards ~ the required curriculum for each subject as defined by the Colorado Department of Education ~ are translated by teachers into "evidence outcomes" that clearly express what the student should know, understand, or be able to do in order to meet the state standard proficiently.  As students practice through "learning activities" like classwork and homework, teachers provide formative feedback that lets students know at which level they are currently achieving and what they can do to improve to the next level.  When a unit concludes, then, and students have had time and feedback to guide their learning, teachers provide a summative task for students to demonstrate their best achievement on the targeted evidence outcomes.  The grade a student earns for this summative task is called a "unit performance."

CRITERION-REFERENCED GRADING

The summative assessment tasks, and many formative tasks as well, are linked by teachers to one or more specific MYP assessment criteria that are part of that MYP subject and reflect the MYP aims and objectives.  Teachers choose the best MYP rubric(s) that will accurately measure the level of efficacy, depth and creative independence their students can show in their evidence outcomes.  The MYP rubrics are the measuring tools of student achievement; they explain HOW proficient students are on their content standards, and how they can improve to the next level.

CONTINUUM OF GROWTH

The MYP rubrics and the state standards work hand-in-hand to set a clear, explicit target for students, allow multiple chances to practice what's necessary to meet or surpass that target, provide relevant constructive feedback for improvement, and determine a level of achievement along a continuum that desribes what success looks like at each level, from novice up to mastery.