Students in Wichita schools will soon be under a new standards-based grading system for elementary, middle and high schools.

Wichita Public Schools will be rolling out a new system starting this fall for elementary school, in fall 2020 for middle school and in fall 2021 for high school.

The new system uses a zero to four scale called “standards referenced grading.” A zero means a student cannot do the skill even with help, one means “emerging” with the student understanding some understanding of skills and grade level standards, two means “developing” with the student showing a basic understanding and partial proficiency of needed skills, three means the student is proficient, four means the student is advanced.   When the system is established at middle schools and high schools in later years, there will still be an A through F scale on report cards.

The school district said the idea is to be consistent and fair from kindergarten through high school, and it will let parents and teachers know where a student needs help and where they excel.

The district said objectives will be the same for each grade level at each school in USD 259. The board heard about the changes to the district grading system at a board meeting Monday night at North High School.