Editor’s note: This Letter to the Editor was contributed by students out of COMM:110

Dear Editor,
Teachers grade only the summatives of a standard required by the Wisconsin Department
of Education. As of right now all the teachers decide whether or not they weigh their class
grades, as well as whether or not they average summatives under specific standards according to
the course taught. Although we understand why both of these can be implemented into grading,
we believe that teachers should all be grading the same way implementing consistency.

Specifically, we believe that if they are weighting grades, all teachers should do so or at least all
teachers teaching the same subject should. We also feel that if teachers are going to be averaging
grades that all teachers should do so rather than just some. Currently, both of these options are up
to the teachers to decide whether or not they want to average grades or weight grades.
While weighted grades have been an option available to teachers since the beginning of
standards-based grading, averaging grades is an option that was just made available this past
summer. After meeting with Andy Wolfe on behalf of standards-based grading, it was learned
that averaging grades was actually made an option based on teacher request. There are so many
different types of summatives that can occur under one standard that by averaging the grades you
can better reflect the students capabilities under that standard of learning. With weighting and
averaging grades a solution to clear up discrepancies within standards based grading could
include showing the conversion to letter grades year round. This would allow students to have a
better grasp on where they actually stand without the need to attempt doing the math for three
separate types of SBG.

We think that if some are going to use weighted grades then all teachers should, or at
least all under the same subject should, and the letter grade option should be made available on
powerschool all year round. This will give more consistency to the grading and a better
understanding of what to expect with grades and grading for not just the students but also the
parents. Having one continuous method throughout the entire school would help parents better
understand where their children are at in school as well help the students understand themselves.