For example, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has launched a pilot report card this year. Report cards will be issued every 12 weeks, with interim reports also given. Carroll County public schools have been experimenting with a new report card for the past two years. Mary Lu Greenwood, associate head of the lower school at the private McDonogh School, said some of their narrative reports total 15 pages. Teachers now use E,G, S, P, U for excellent, good, satisfactory, poor and unsatisfactory.
Students also receive number grades that indicate skill levels.
The Baltimore School Board also tackled standardization of grading systems in the district's schools, notes the paper. In the past, schools had the authority to develop their own progress reports, which was accomplished by about half of the system's schools. This September, however, the county revised the report cards and has required that it be used in all schools. We need to recognize students for growth. While the thrill is not gone with connecting schools with the Information Highway, some are beginning to question the coupling of computers and student achievement.