The Madison Metropolitan School District is implementing standards-based learning (SBL) in its high schools as part of a multi-year effort to align curriculum, instruction, assessment and grading across grades 4K-12.
The approach focuses on students demonstrating mastery of key academic skills and concepts before moving on to more advanced material. SBL is already used in MMSD elementary and middle schools, and the current phase extends that framework into high school classrooms. Districts across Wisconsin, including Milwaukee Public Schools, Racine Unified School District and the School District of Waukesha, also use standards-based learning approaches.
“Standards-based learning helps ensure grades reflect what students actually know and are able to do,” said Patti Schaefer, director of secondary curriculum and instruction. “By focusing on mastery of core skills and encouraging reflection and persistence, we are helping students develop the critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving abilities they will need after high school.”
East High School has already transitioned to SBL, with grades reflecting mastery of core skills. The district’s other comprehensive high schools — Robert M. La Follette High School, Vel Phillips Memorial High School and West High School — are implementing SBL practices in classrooms and plan to update grading systems beginning in the 2027-28 school year. Alternative schools and programs are also aligning grading and reporting systems with core skills.
Courses in an SBL system are organized around clearly defined core skills, and students receive regular feedback on their progress toward mastering those skills.
“By providing clear goals and actionable feedback, we are giving students and families the tools they need to partner with us in the learning process,” Schaefer said. “This shift fosters student agency by focusing on the specific skills students are developing, ensuring our graduates are truly prepared for college, career and community.”
Report cards and transcripts will continue to include traditional letter grades and grade point averages. In addition, students and families will receive information about progress toward mastering the core skills connected to each course.
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Madison Metropolitan School District
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