Mastery-Based Learning Parent Update #3 - For September 4, 2025
For September 4th
Part Three: Mastery-Based Scoring and Reporting
Mastery-based scoring and reporting are a set of teaching and reporting practices that communicate how a student is performing against a predetermined set of expectations. Students are graded on the development of skills and knowledge (what they know and can do) rather than their completion of tasks. The primary purpose for report cards and progress reports is to give parents, teachers and students a clear picture of a child’s academic progress and growth in relationship to archdiocesan standards. Scores are determined by analyzing the evidence of learning (see Evidence of Achievement above) and each student’s work is measured against the standard, not against the performance of other students.
In assessing the whole child, two separate categories will be reported:
Academic achievement, which is an accurate evaluation of what a student knows and is able to demonstrate. (Ex: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing specific on details in the text.)
Success Indicators, which describe the actions and behaviors that support achievement. (Ex: Has work and materials ready when needed, or works cooperatively with others)
Assessing and Scoring
St. Benedict Preparatory School uses proficiency scales to clearly define learning targets that communicate the knowledge and skills necessary for students to reach mastery on each priority standard. These scoring guides help students and parents understand the level of mastery they have achieved at any given time.
Level 1- Below would apply to students who are unable to demonstrate the most basic knowledge in a given standard.
Level 2 - Approaching is the grade given when a student is not at the mastery level but working on the necessary vocabulary and learning targets identified in the scoring guide. A student remains at Level 2 until they have demonstrated full mastery of the priority standard(s) being assessed.
Level 3 - Proficient is the grade given when a student has demonstrated grade-level proficiency on a given standard. It is important that a student is given more than one opportunity to provide evidence of mastery before the priority standard is given a grade on the report card. These assessments are often summative in nature, but don’t necessarily require a formal written test. The most recent and comprehensive evidence is given the greatest consideration when determining a grade.
Level 4 – Exceeding represents an understanding and application of knowledge at a level beyond what is expected at a given grade level.
For August 28th
Part Two: The Role of Homework in a Mastery-Based Classroom
Homework is an integral part of a Mastery-Based Classroom. Students will be assigned homework that will help them practice skills and concepts that will lead to greater mastery of standards. Homework will be assigned to provide a variety of learning experiences:
Reinforcement of Concepts: Homework provides opportunities for students to practice and reinforce what they've learned, helping solidify understanding and retention.
Feedback for Growth: It serves as a diagnostic tool, allowing both students and instructors to identify areas of strength and weakness, guiding future instruction and support.
Preparation for Assessments: Homework builds the foundational skills and confidence needed for summative assessments that evaluate mastery.
Here are some examples of homework that students may have assigned:
Targeted Practice Assignments
Focused exercises on specific skills or concepts a student hasn't yet mastered.
Example: A math worksheet that only includes problems on factoring quadratics if the student struggled with that in class.
Error Analysis Tasks
Students review incorrect answers and explain their mistakes.
Example: In science, students analyze a lab report with errors and rewrite the conclusion using correct reasoning.
Revision and Resubmission
Students revise previous work based on feedback until mastery is demonstrated.
Example: A history essay is returned with comments, and the student revises it to meet rubric standards.
Interactive Mastery Tools
Use of digital platforms that adapt to student responses.
Example: Online math and ELA programs like iReady and iXL that adjust difficulty based on performance.
How will homework be scored in a Mastery-Based Classroom?
Since homework is meant to be practice and not a final assessment, homework will not be scored the same way as an assessment given by the teacher. Homework will be scored using the homework proficiency scale which focuses on effort, completion, and timeliness. Scoring students on these habits will lead to more effective feedback to students and parents. The goal is to strengthen homework practices that are needed to be successful in high school and beyond.
Please see the Homework Proficiency Scale below. Students will be scored a 0-4 on their progress report and report cards.
Please note that for the first several weeks of school, gradebooks for middle school will not be visible to parents and students. Instead, missing assignment reports will be sent home weekly with students.
We will turn on the gradebook feature for parents and students by the time progress reports are issued. This will allow teachers the time to get used to the new gradebook format as well as the MBL assessment patterns.
Our goal is to have gradebooks visible to parents in grades 1-5 during the second trimester. We appreciate your patience as teacher get used to this new reporting system.
Part One: Introduction to Mastery-Based Learning (published on August 21, 2025)
Two years ago, as outlined in our Strategic Plan, Aspirations 2028, we initiated teacher training and professional development in order to prepare to make the switch from traditional grading to mastery-based learning. The faculty, staff, and administration team are now ready to take the next bold steps in the implementation. We are excited to begin this next phase and ask for parent support as we strengthen our school’s overall program. All our students and teachers aim to benefit from this work.
Overall - the progress reports and report cards for grades K-5 won’t be very different. We haven’t used traditional letter grades for over a decade here at SBPS in core content areas. Instead, we used “below level,” “at level,” and “above level.” We’ve also been giving a general level of skill mastery as indicated by symbols. Our new progress reports and report cards will use numbers 1-4, indicating the level of student mastery, and be that specific for each of the standards reported on the report card. Parents and students will have more specific information about student mastery and achievement.
Middle school will make the transition away from traditional letter grades and use the number 1-4 system. Don’t worry, though, about letter grades as they are not fully going away. Our reporting systems will still be able to translate to both public and Catholic high schools for application requirements. We would not do anything to jeopardize our students’ ability to apply to the Catholic and public schools of their choice. Please read on to learn more about Mastery-Based Learning.
What is Mastery-Based Learning (MBL)?
MBL is focused on standards within our courses of study including appropriate and meaningful activities that engage the student in the learning process. Students focus on true mastery of a topic or skill and teachers focus on teaching standards that every student must learn. Each lesson taught is connected to a standard, and learning targets along the way mark progress toward meeting the standard. Learning targets are clear and opportunities to meet them are varied.
Here is a short video that explains the basics of Mastery-Based Learning.
Here is a short video that explains why Mastery-Based Learning provides students and parents specific, actionable feedback on student learning and growth.
How Does Mastery-Based Learning differ from traditional grading?
How will parents learn more about Mastery-Based Learning?
Check back here in the BUZZ each week for the first few weeks of school. Ms. Gemo will be explaining MBL in bite-size communications so that parents aren’t overwhelmed by all the information.
Additionally, Ms. Gemo will explain more at Back to School Night this year.
Ms. Gemo also plans to host parent coffee sessions to explain more.
There will also be a comprehensive Parent Guide forthcoming. We are in the revision stages right now. We also want to communicate important information in phases before putting out the full guide.
Please stay tuned for more information!