Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: ABCs lose place in report cards Date: Thu, 26 Nov 92 15:00:28 EST Message-ID: Lines: 49 \SE B;METROPOLITAN \SS (WS) \HD ABCs lose place in report cards \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT TOWSON, Md. TOWSON, Md. (AP) - The traditional letter-grade system will be gradually phased out in Baltimore County elementary schools beginning next year and will be replaced by alternative plans that do more to measure skills. The new report card "will be much more explanatory and less bottom-line," said Nancy Brooks, acting administrator in the county's Office of Elementary School Instruction. "It will focus on developmental milestones." But not all parents are happy with the idea, arguing that the new system penalizes A and B students, dilutes academic standards, makes more work for teachers, and cuts class time to make room for conferences. At Reisterstown Elementary, students will receive letter grades in mathematics, reading and English this year. But in social studies, science, art, music and gym, teachers will complete a checklist of skills in each subject to show how a student is progressing. Parents and teachers will meet at least once a year. At Rodgers Forge Elementary, half the second- and third-graders will get traditional letter grades. The other half will get report cards that evaluate their progress with E's, B's and I's: "emerging," "beginning" and "independent." Other Maryland school districts have implemented similar programs. Carroll County gave up traditional letter grades for first- and second-graders years ago, said Dottie Mangle, the county's elementary school director. Young students get O's, S's and N's: "outstanding," "satisfactory" and "needs improvement." But parents didn't like the idea for older students. "Parents advocated retaining traditional letter grades for third, fourth and fifth grades," Ms. Mangle said. "Our community spoke very loudly." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM