All schoolchildren realize the alphabet is not created equal. “A” becomes the most prized letter and “F” the most feared, but for students at Central Elementary School in Lake Bluff, that historic hierarchy no longer exists.
“We’ve eliminated letter grades,” said Central Principal Mike Sullivan. “If you want to compare your child to others, you can always fall back on the statewide standardized tests. Our report cards now compare the child to the child to show the growth that actually takes place.”
The bulk of the new report card is narrative. Sullivan said the teachers have developed a system of jotting observations on sticky notes that are attached to a sheet that is divided into academic and social categories for each child.
“It takes a lot of time, but it allows the teacher to be very specific about a child’s strengths and weaknesses. A portfolio of the child’s work accompanies it to demonstrate what the teacher means.”
The change, Sullivan said, was driven by the teachers, who took the trouble last year to prepare both old-style and revised report cards so parents could compare.
“We talked to parents and explained our logic,” Sullivan said. “We made changes based on their suggestions and surveyed them at the end of the year. The parents were 2-to-1 in favor of the change.”
The students now attend parent-teacher conferences, Sullivan said. “They run the conference. They sit down with their portfolio, go through their papers and talk about how they did. This is a buy-in for the kids. They have ownership of what’s happening.
“What we are trying to do,” Sullivan added, “is improve school-parent communication.”
