Grading is one of the most hotly debated topics in education, and grading practices themselves are largely based on tradition, instinct, or personal history or philosophy. But to be effective, grading policies and practices must be based on trustworthy research evidence.

Enter this book: a review of 100-plus years of grading research that presents the broadest and most comprehensive summary of research on grading and reporting available to date, with clear takeaways for learning and teaching. Edited by Thomas R. Guskey and Susan M. Brookhart, this indispensable guide features thoughtful, thorough dives into the research from a distinguished team of scholars, geared to a broad range of stakeholders, including teachers, school leaders, policymakers, and researchers. Each chapter addresses a different area of grading research and describes how the major findings in that area might be leveraged to improve grading policy and practice. Ultimately, Guskey and Brookhart identify four themes emerging from the research that can guide these efforts:

- Start with clear learning goals,
- Focus on the feedback function of grades,
- Limit the number of grade categories, and
- Provide multiple grades that reflect product, process, and progress criteria.

By distilling the vast body of research evidence into meaningful, actionable findings and strategies, this book is the jump-start all stakeholders need to build a better understanding of what works--and where to go from here.

Make school a better experience for students by ensuring grading and reporting practices are honest, accurate, meaningful, and fair. A companion to the best-selling and award-winning On Your Mark, this practical guide details how to successfully lead lasting grading reform. Dr. Thomas R. Guskey simplifies the transition by guiding educators through six essential steps--from developing a coalition devoted to change to creating a systematic plan.

Use this resource to develop a new system of grading in your school or district:

• Become familiar with the process of implementing a rigorous new system of reporting that aligns with the goals of standards-based grading.
• Acquire numerous tools and strategies that will assist in the process of implementing a new grading system.
• Study the six steps that are essential to any successful attempt to reform grading, as well as how to succeed in each.
• Learn how to form a change action plan that covers the entire system of implementation and improves the student experience.

Contents:
About the Author
Introduction
Chapter 1: Learn From Failures
Chapter 2: Form a Coalition for Change
Chapter 3: Understand the Change Process
Chapter 4: Clarify the Purpose of Grading and Reporting
Chapter 5: Report Multiple Grades for Cognitive Outcomes
Chapter 6: Report Multiple Grades for Noncognitive Outcomes
Chapter 7: Get Assessment Policies and Practices Right
Chapter 8: Develop a Systematic Plan for Implementation
References and Resources
Index

In The Teacher as Assessment Leader, Second Edition, editor Thomas R. Guskey and expert contributors offer research-backed strategies for re-envisioning assessment to enhance student learning and teacher instruction. The authors provide actionable steps, practical examples, and strategies for utilizing formative assessments. These strategies promote a growth mindset, proficiency, self-regulation, and student ownership, ultimately fostering improved instructional effectiveness and student achievement.

K-12 teachers can use this book to:

• Adopt new perspectives on assessment's role in guiding student learning
• Employ practical strategies to improve instruction and enhance student achievement
• Promote regular assessment analysis to enhance instructional strategies
• Encourage student self-efficacy in identifying and pursuing learning goals
• Lead and collaborate with colleagues in developing more effective, practical assessments and alternative instructional strategies

Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Leading the Assessment Revolution From Within
Chapter 2: Harvesting Assessment Evidence to Yield Effective Responses
Chapter 3: Assessing Beyond the Labels
Chapter 4: Sharing Leadership to Align Assessment Practices Across the School
Chapter 5: Using Data as a Flashlight, Not a Hammer, to Illuminate Evidence That Matters
Chapter 6: Developing Self-Regulatory Learners Through Assessment
Chapter 7: Designing Assessments to Accelerate Learning
Chapter 8: Approaching Learning and Assessment as a Subtle Curator
Chapter 9: Leading the Way to Student Success

The definitive guidebook to the complex terrain of 21st-century standards!

Standards, assessments, grading, and reporting provide the foundation for nearly every initiative in modern education reform. But what do these

Create and sustain a learning environment where students thrive and stakeholders are accurately informed of student progress. Clarify the purpose of grades, craft a vision statement aligned with this purpose, and discover research-based strategies to implement effective grading and reporting practices. Identify policies and practices that render grading inaccurate, and understand the role grades play in students' future success and opportunities.

This is a practical guide to evaluating professional development programs at five increasing levels of sophistication: participants' reaction to professional development; how much participants learned; evaluating organizational support and change; how participants use their new knowledge and skills; and improvements in student learning.

This work brings organization and clarity to a murky and disagreement-filled topic.

Implement standards-based grading practices that accurately and equitably report student achievement!

Standards-based education poses a variety of challenges for grading and reporting practices. This edited volume examines critical issues in standards-based grading and provides specific suggestions for improving policies and practices at the school and classroom levels. The chapters:

• Describe traditional school practices that inhibit the implementation of standards-based grading
• Address how teachers can assign fair and accurate grades to English language learners and students with special needs
• Examine legal issues related to grading
• Discuss why report card grades and large-scale assessment scores may vary
• Offer communication strategies with parents

Develop standards-based report cards that are meaningful to students, parents, and educators!

Helping school leaders gain support for transitioning from traditional to standards-based report cards, this book guides educators in aligning assessment and reporting practices with standards-based education and providing more detailed reports of children's learning and progress. This accessible volume:

• Provides a clear framework for developing standards-based report cards
• Shows how to communicate with parents, students, and other stakeholders about changes
• Illustrates how to achieve grading consistency without increasing teachers' workloads or violating their professional autonomy
• Includes examples of standards-based report cards that can be adapted to a school's needs

The implementation of a ′high stakes′, performace-based assessment system has resulted in financial rewards being granted to those schools demonstrating improved results, while sanctions have been imposed on schools whose academic performance is poor. Contributors to this book examine the complex issues associated with this system in the state of Kentucky and offer diverse opinion on the topic.

The implementation of a 'high stakes', performace-based assessment system has resulted in financial rewards being granted to those schools demonstrating improved results, while sanctions have been imposed on schools whose academic performance is poor. Contributors to this book examine the complex issues associated with this system in the state of Kentucky and offer diverse opinion on the topic.

This book explores the importance of effective classroom assessment to student achievement and the role of school leaders to model and spark positive change through building teacher literacy, providing targeted professional development, acquiring appropriate technology, and more. With insights from expert practitioners, this book helps schools make the shift to best-practice assessment for districtwide improvements in student learning.

Few individuals in the history of education have had greater impact on educational policy and practice than Benjamin S. Bloom. Benjamin Bloom's stories are touching remembrances that offer special insight into his uniqueness as a preeminent scholar, colleague, mentor, and friend. This book is a collection of these stories, with brief reviews of some of Bloom's major professional contributions.

Few individuals in the history of education have had greater impact on educational policy and practice than Benjamin S. Bloom. During a career that spanned over five decades, his research and writing guided the development of innumerable educational programs and provided powerful insights into the untapped potential of educators to help all students learn well. Benjamin S. Bloom spent most of his professional life at the University of Chicago, where he held the Charles H. Swift Distinguished Service endowed chair. At this university, he founded and chaired the program in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (or MESA), authored or co-authored 17 books, and wrote numerous journal articles. He served as the president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), a member of the National Academy of Education, and a founding member of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). Also the recipient of several awards, perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the profound influence he had on his students and professional colleagues. Much of his time was spent in one-to-one interactions with them, which have become known as Bloom Stories and have gained legendary status. Many of the Bloom Stories are humorous and show his amazing quick wit. Others recall the kindness and encouragement, and subtle wisdom he showed in helping students and colleagues overcome obstacles or setbacks. No matter what the topic, Benjamin Bloom's stories are touching remembrances that offer special insight into his uniqueness as a preeminent scholar, colleague, mentor, and friend. This book is a collection of these stories, with brief reviews of some of Bloom's major professional contributions.

Discover how to improve student learning through the power of effective assessment, and realize your power to transform education from inside the classroom. Meaningful examples, expert research, and real-life experiences illustrate the capacity and responsibility every educator has to ignite positive change. Packed with practical strategies from expert practitioners for designing, analyzing, and using assessments, this book shows how to turn best practices into usable solutions.

In How's My Kid Doing? noted educator Thomas R. Guskey has created a practical handbook for parents who have trouble understanding their school-age children's grades, report cards, and test scores. This down-to-earth guide will help parents make sense of school reports and offers a helpful resource that can open communications between parents and teachers.

Develop standards-based report cards that are meaningful to students, parents, and educators!

Helping school leaders gain support for transitioning from traditional to standards-based report cards, this book guides educators in aligning assessment and reporting practices with standards-based education and providing more detailed reports of children's learning and progress. This accessible volume:

• Provides a clear framework for developing standards-based report cards
• Shows how to communicate with parents, students, and other stakeholders about changes
• Illustrates how to achieve grading consistency without increasing teachers' workloads or violating their professional autonomy
• Includes examples of standards-based report cards that can be adapted to a school's needs

Implement standards-based grading practices that accurately and equitably report student achievement!

Standards-based education poses a variety of challenges for grading and reporting practices. This edited volume examines critical issues in standards-based grading and provides specific suggestions for improving policies and practices at the school and classroom levels. The chapters:

• Describe traditional school practices that inhibit the implementation of standards-based grading
• Address how teachers can assign fair and accurate grades to English language learners and students with special needs
• Examine legal issues related to grading
• Discuss why report card grades and large-scale assessment scores may vary
• Offer communication strategies with parents