Changing the way they grade

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Grades can make or break a student.

How teachers grade is the subject Bonneville School District 93 is hoping to overhaul. D93 has left grading up to teachers, up till now

They started a grading overhaul months ago. The goal is to have one standard grading method that all teachers use. The district brought in Dr. Thomas Guskey to help.

"My goal is to come in and offer some guidance in regard to what research we have in this area what research tells us works and doesn't work and to share with them experiences of other school districts and what they've learned about the process of implementation,” he said.  

Dr. Guskey goes on to say the area of grading hasn't changed since the Titanic sank. Despite research in the field- teachers usually pass on what's been done to them. Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme hopes with his guidance they can avoid mistakes

"It's been great to have Dr. Gusky here he's worked with a lot of school districts all across the country so he has a lot of experience knowing what the pitfalls are with the school districts as they make these changes. The key changes we really should be thinking about and why we should be thinking about that and how to better communicate those changes with parents,” Woolstenhulme said.

The school board listened to a presentation on grading as a whole, along with the history and what does and doesn't work. After that, the teachers in District 93 met at Thunder Ridge to hear from Dr. Guskey. He says grading is really something that hasn't changed over the years.

"Grading is kind of unique in education because there's not another area where we are more bound by tradition," Guskey said. "We don't do things based on what we know works for kids we do things because we've always done it that way."

The grading forums with parents, teachers, and students will continue as the district works to evolve this policy.