Which statement best describes reporting in standards-based grading?

• A. It focuses on relative ranking of students.
• B. It focuses on mastery of defined criteria.
• C. It reports only attendance data.
• D. It emphasizes school-wide accountability metrics.

Answer: (B)

Reporting in standards-based grading centers on mastery of defined criteria. In this system, the grade shows how well a student has demonstrated proficiency on specific learning standards, with assessments and rubrics aligned to those standards. The emphasis is on whether each standard is mastered, partially mastered, or not yet mastered, which guides further instruction and feedback. This approach communicates learning progress and next steps directly related to defined targets, rather than how a student compares to peers. It’s not about relative ranking, attendance data, or school-wide accountability metrics; those elements are separate from how individual mastery is reported.