Explaining new assessment approaches to parents can be challenging, especially when they are familiar with traditional letter grades and may be skeptical of changes. Parents want clear information about their child's academic progress and specific guidance for support. However, traditional grading often blends academic performance with behavior factors, making it hard for parents to pinpoint where their child excels or needs help.

Standards-based grading (SBG) offers a more precise solution by focusing solely on a student's proficiency in specific learning standards, separating academic knowledge from other factors. This transparency gives parents a better understanding of what their children truly know and can do.

In this article, we'll explore how to explain SBG to parents, its benefits for personalized learning, how to address common concerns, and practical strategies for educators to communicate this more effective assessment approach.

Explaining the difference: Traditional grading vs. standards-based grading

When introducing SBG to parents, start with a relatable question: "When your child receives a 'B' on an assignment or report card, what does that actually tell you?" Most parents will recognize that traditional grades provide limited information about their child's specific strengths and weaknesses. 

Traditional grading systems use letters (A-F) or percentages (0-100%) that communicate very little about what a student actually knows or can do. These grades often blend academic achievement with non-academic factors like behavior, participation, and timeliness of work.

In contrast, standards-based grading (SBG) focuses on assessing students solely on their proficiency in specific learning standards. This approach gives parents a clearer, more accurate picture of their child's academic abilities.

Here's how you can explain the comparison to parents:

When explaining to parents, emphasize that a significant issue with traditional grading is the averaging system. If their child struggles early on but improves over time, their grade can still be negatively impacted by those initial low scores. Standards-based grading, however, prioritizes learning and proficiency. Students are rewarded for progress, even if it takes them longer to master a concept.

Help parents understand that by focusing on actual learning rather than simply accumulating points, standards-based grading fosters a more accurate, equitable, and motivating assessment system that supports their child's growth.

Core components of standards-based grading parents should understand

Learning standards

When explaining SBG to parents, begin by introducing learning standards as the system’s foundation. Describe these as clear statements of what their child should know and be able to do at their grade level. Help parents understand that these standards establish transparent expectations for student achievement.

Explain that rather than grading students on assignment completion, SBG assesses their child's proficiency in these explicit learning targets, giving parents better insight into specific strengths and challenges.

Proficiency scales and rubrics

Parents need to understand how proficiency is measured. Explain that once learning standards are established, proficiency scales or rubrics define what progress toward learning goals looks like. Show parents examples of these scales that typically use 3-5 levels to indicate student achievement:

• 1: Emerging (beginning to understand concepts with significant support) 

• 2: Developing (showing progress but not consistent proficiency) 

• 3: Proficient (demonstrating solid understanding of the standard) 

• 4: Advanced (applying knowledge in new or more complex situations)

These scales replace traditional percentage-based grades, providing parents with more meaningful information about their children's progress in their learning journey.

Multiple assessment opportunities

Many parents worry that bad grades will permanently affect their child's record. Highlight that providing students with multiple chances to demonstrate proficiency is a critical component of standards-based grading. Unlike traditional grading, where a poor early performance permanently affects the final grade, SBG encourages reassessment.

SBG allows students to retry assignments and demonstrate improved understanding, fostering a growth mindset and reducing the pressure of early failures. Parents often appreciate this emphasis on learning rather than one-time performance.

Separation of academic achievement from behaviors

Parents often conflate effort with achievement when interpreting grades. Help them understand that in standards-based grading, you clearly distinguish between academic achievement and non-academic factors. 

Explain that SBG isolates academic achievement from non-academic aspects like effort, attendance, or class behavior. These non-academic elements are often reported separately, ensuring academic grades reflect only content knowledge.

This separation helps parents target their support more effectively—addressing either academic needs or behavioral concerns specifically.

Actionable feedback

Show parents examples of the detailed feedback their children will receive. Rather than simply noting a score, effective feedback in SBG tells parents which aspects of the standard their child has mastered, which need improvement, and specific steps for growth. 

Feedback in SBG is specific and actionable, guiding students and parents on how to improve rather than simply indicating a score.

Implementing parent communication: Practical strategies

Start with parent education sessions

Begin your SBG implementation with dedicated parent information sessions that explain the philosophy and mechanics of standards-based grading. Create simple handouts comparing traditional and standards-based grading side by side. According to research, schools that proactively educate their parent community report smoother transitions and greater parental buy-in.

Develop parent-friendly standards explanations

Translate educational jargon into everyday language that parents can easily understand. Create visual guides that explain what proficiency looks like in practical terms for each major standard. Consider creating short videos demonstrating student work at different proficiency levels that parents can reference.

Design aligned parent communication tools

Create communication tools that directly help parents understand their child's proficiency on specific standards. Use a variety of formats, including digital platforms, printed materials, and in-person conferences, to ensure all parents can access the information regardless of technology capabilities.

Establish effective reporting systems for parents

Redesign report cards to show progress on specific standards in parent-friendly language. Consider a dual reporting approach during transition periods to help parents adjust. Use technology platforms designed for standards-based reporting to provide continuous access to updated information on student progress.

Making the shift to parent-friendly assessment reporting

Standards-based grading (SBG) shifts the focus from point accumulation to proficiency in essential skills and knowledge. When explaining this to parents, highlight how SBG provides straightforward, actionable feedback that helps students take control of their learning. It offers a more accurate picture of student understanding, enabling targeted support at home. SBG fosters environments where growth mindset thrives, giving every student multiple pathways to success.

It's important to reassure parents that SBG doesn’t require an immediate overhaul of their understanding—small, intentional steps can lead to better support for their child’s learning. By emphasizing proficiency over points, parents will see how we respect each student's learning journey while maintaining high expectations.

Ready to enhance your school's parent communication about assessment practices? SchoolAI can help you implement parent-friendly SBG communications with tools designed to streamline the transition for teachers, students, and parents, ensuring a focus on personalized learning that prepares students for success beyond the classroom.

Key takeaways

• Clear focus on proficiency: Help parents understand that standards-based grading (SBG) isolates academic achievement by focusing on a student's proficiency in specific learning standards, rather than blending academic and non-academic factors like effort or participation.

• Growth-oriented approach: Emphasize to parents that SBG allows for multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency, encourages a growth mindset, and recognizes improvement over time, even if students initially struggle.

• Detailed, actionable feedback: Show parents how, instead of vague grades, SBG provides specific, actionable feedback that guides students and parents on areas of improvement and next steps for the learning journey.

• Implementation challenges: Acknowledge that parents may initially resist change and technology transitions, but explain how starting with clear communication and parent education can ease the process and foster smoother adoption.

• Research-backed benefits: Share with parents that studies show SBG enhances student engagement, reduces math anxiety, and can help close achievement gaps by focusing on proficiency rather than competition.