This put up initially appeared on the Otus weblog and is republished right here with permission.
Grading reform is messy, but it surely’s price it.
That was the central message from Jessica Espinoza and Alice Opperman of Emerson Public Faculties (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 suitable instruments.
Right here’s what they realized alongside the way in which, and why they’re nonetheless studying.
3 large 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 turned 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 Ok-6. Our report card at the moment listed just about each normal we may consider. We realized that we actually wanted to slim in on extra umbrella requirements or requirements that actually encapsulate the entire concept. We took away this bigger report card with 50 completely different requirements, and we went into one thing that was extra streamlined. That basically helped our lecturers to focus their vitality on what is absolutely essential for our college students.”
–Jessica Espinoza, Principal, Emerson Public Faculties (NJ)
Lasting change doesn’t occur with out trainer buy-in
Grading reform can’t succeed except educators imagine in it. That’s why Emerson made intentional house for trainer voice all through the method; by way of pilots, surveys, trustworthy conversations, and, most significantly, time. The district embraced a long-term mindset, giving lecturers flexibility to experiment, replicate, and steadily evolve their practices as a substitute of anticipating prompt transformation.
“We had some consultants sit with groups of lecturers to work on these widespread scoring standards. They have been absolutely designed by lecturers, and their colleagues had the prospect to weigh in in the course of the college 12 months 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 have been taking their autonomy away.”
–Alice Opperman, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Know-how, Emerson Public Faculties (NJ)
Progress means nothing if households can’t observe it
Even with lecturers aligned and techniques in place, Emerson discovered that household understanding was key to creating SBG actually 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 executed with factors. We are going to by no means see a letter grade once more. It’s going to be so a lot better.’ However speaking to guardian after guardian has led us to this compromised place the place we’re going to attempt it just a little bit in another way to offer the dad and mom what they want with a purpose to perceive us, but additionally maintain that proficiency, competency, mastery info that we really feel is so useful as educators.”
–Alice Opperman, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Know-how, Emerson Public Faculties (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 attaining it in a single day). It’s been about listening, studying, and enhancing 12 months after 12 months. Their message to different college leaders? There’s nobody “proper” approach to do SBG, however there’s a considerate, collaborative method ahead.
Emerson’s story exhibits that whenever you prioritize readability, belief your lecturers, and produce households into the dialog, the end result isn’t only a higher report card.
It’s a greater studying expertise for everybody concerned.
How the suitable grading answer helps Emerson’s SBG efforts
Emerson put within the work, however sustaining grading reform at scale is almost not possible with out the suitable instruments to help lecturers, observe progress, and talk successfully with households.
- Streamlined requirements
Concentrate on the requirements that matter most by constructing customized, district-aligned grading scales. The proper platform makes it simple to group requirements, apply scoring standards, and visualize mastery over time. - Clear communication
Share clear, standards-aligned suggestions with households immediately in a platform. Academics can present well timed updates, rubric explanations, and progress experiences, multi functional place. - Versatile grading instruments
Help trainer autonomy with a number of evaluation varieties 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 Instructional Management hub.
