Utah: Raising School Grades and Expectations

Earlier this month the Utah State Office of Education released the 2015 school grades, and more schools are earning A and B grades.

Earlier this month the Utah State Office of Education released the 2015 school grades, and more schools are earning A and B grades.

This year, 62 percent of Utah schools earned an A or B grade, up from 56 percent the first year schools were graded in 2013. There were also fewer schools, only 8 percent, with D and F grades this year. This dropped from 14 percent in 2013.

These improvements are even more laudable given that Utah is asking more of schools. In 2014, the state raised the bar for student proficiency expectations on the Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence (SAGE) to align with the expectations set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results.

Utah School Grades

 

In 2013, Utah began grading schools on an A-F scale. This grading system holds schools accountable in a transparent way that parents and the public can easily understand. Everyone instinctively recognizes that an A represents exceptional work and a D means there is plenty of room for improvement.

Each Utah school’s grade is based on student achievement and growth, measuring how well the school is preparing students with the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in the next grade – and most importantly – after high school. The school grades also have a focus on the lowest performing students and measure high school graduation rates and the percentage of students who meet college and career ready benchmarks on the ACT

With the A-F School Grading System, every Utah parent, educator and community member can take part in improving the education system in the state and raising student achievement expectations. Now in its third year of implementation, the A-F School Grading System is a continuous process and Utah’s education leaders should be commended for their steadfast dedication to providing responsible, clear reports on schools.

We applaud Utah’s education leaders for their continued commitment to school accountability and encourage them to continue to raise the bar because success is never final, and reform is never finished. Utah’s actions are moving the state toward a future where all children are able to master the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in the next grade and life after high school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S4W_pBUxzw

Watch this video to see how A-F School Grades
shine a bright light on schools’ effectiveness.

 

Background on A-F School Grading Policy:

Visit ExcelinEd’s Policy Library to learn more about A-F School Grades.

About the Author

Christy Hovanetz, Ph.D., is a Senior Policy Fellow for ExcelinEd focusing on school accountability and math policies.

Solution Areas:

K-8 Math Policy, School Accountability