For about the past six years, Ignacio schools have been moving toward classes where students can learn at their own pace through each subject.

The middle school is taking another step in that process this year with a shift to standards-based report cards and extra-curricular eligibility that recognizes student effort as well as grades.

Principal Chris deKay described the shift to the school board on Aug. 11.

Report card grades will be on a four-point scale rather than the traditional A, B, C, D and F, he said. Those numbers represent 4 for advanced, 3 for competent/grade level, 2 for developing (previously called partially proficient), and 1 for beginning (previously called unsatisfactory). Five IMS teachers did a pilot of this system in the last school year, and no one complained about the change, deKay said.

He provided a handout to the board laying out the philosophy behind this. Student grades will reflect proficiency based on Colorado Academic Standards and on work and effort in the classroom.

"Teachers will communicate with students about what it means to be proficient at the content standard, so students are able to achieve proficiency or higher," the handout says.

"We know how important work ethic skills are to be successful in the future studies and careers of students. As a staff, we agreed to focus on four traits for the work and effort grade - quality of homework/classwork, citizenship, preparedness and time management. ... We are trying to create a culture shift that helps students focus on academic growth as well as character growth.

"This means that students who are performing below grade will be less likely to give up. The goal is to reduce the fear of failure."

Along with this, eligibility for sports and other extra-curricular activities will include consideration of student effort. Previously, students with two Ds or one F in any given week made them ineligible.

DeKay's handout said, "With a standards-based grading system, the work and effort grade must be taken into account." An average standards-based score of less than 2 is where that kicks in. If the work and effort grade is 3 or higher, the student will be eligible.

The handout says, "One advantage of creating a separate grade for work ethic and proficiency is that it allows teachers to provide students and parents with specific feedback about student learning and work habits," along with shifting the focus to academic growth and character development.

"It shows if you learn at a different pace," deKay told the school board.

"It's a different way to think about it. If kids are showing up, ready to learn, eventually we'll get them. They shouldn't be dinged for learning at a different pace."

Board President Bobby Schurman commented, "I know this has been an issue for parents whose kid tries hard but can't get the grade."

DeKay added, "It's a sense of fairness, too. That it's okay to learn at a different rate, but show up in class and work your butt off and you'll be fine."

Behavior is part of that, Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto said.

DeKay clarified, "Missing assignments, not making up (work), showing up with a bad attitude, those will hurt you. Homework becomes the work and effort. Those kids will be rewarded even if they don't quite have the skill."

This eligibility system can't be used at the high school because of Colorado High School Activity Association rules.

Standards-based grading is already used at the elementary school, and it was a natural progression to bring it to the mid school, deKay said.

If a kid starts the school year at beginning or developing, that's where they are supposed to be at that point, he said. "The goal is, at the end of the year, they are at grade level. By the end of the year, they will be competent."

The system of letting kids progress at their own rate in each subject benefits the fast learners as well as those who are struggling, he said. It's about learning and proficiency, not seat time.

The overall goal is that, "at the end of the day, everyone who graduates is competent in every subject area," he said.

"Some kids who work fast could graduate at 16. Some kids stay in until 19 or 20."