This study investigated Brazilian elementary teachers' decision making processes when evaluating and grading students' written work. Teachers analyzed the written work of four students who were unknown to them, then produced reports indicating: their perception of the author's grade level and reasons for believing it was that grade level; positive…

This study investigated preservice, inservice, and college teachers' reasons for making assessment and grading decisions. A survey examined their perspectives about a case study that presented a grading dilemma in which a teacher, "Sarah", assigned grades based on criteria that were potentially invalid and unreliable. Participants analyzed the…

While scholars--Elbow (1997), Dolphin (1997)--have suggested contract grading, most contracts are initially created from the top down to promote the accountability required by administrators. Additionally, Radican (1997) describes issues of accountability in portfolio assessment. This paper describes the use of contracts along three major…

This monograph discusses two studies that investigated weighting grades and waiving classes for gifted students. Data were gathered from 19 interviews with teachers, counselors and administrators in four high schools, questionnaires filled out by 189 high school administrators, 80 school policies on weighting grades and 19 policies on waiving…

As part of a larger study, variables that significantly influenced the grades of young girls were investigated. The sample included 52 middle-level girls (grade 7), all of whom were participants in a project examining factors that support or inhibit rural and urban girls' participation in science, mathematics, and technology. Preliminary analyses…

This bulletin provides information to Missouri school districts on grading, credits, and graduation for students with disabilities. It reviews the difference between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and discusses discrimination toward students with disabilities and its prohibition…

Describes a system of grading and grade reporting adopted at the Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, Massachusetts, for classes in science and mathematics. Attempts to make grades more truly indicators of a level of performance by pointing out an individual's strengths and weaknesses in a given subject area. (JR)

Discusses a study of differences in seven instructors' grading of four college business writing assignments. (DD)

Results of a survey of 486 admissions officers at undergraduate institutions and graduate, law, and medical schools for their opinions on various traditional and nontraditional grading systems. (Editor)

Discusses on the basis of Ph.D. qualifying examination results, advantages of a discrete scoring system under which continuously graded answers are classified as either correct'' or incorrect'' with the cutoff placed at a bias level.'' Indicates that the discrete method is characterized by increased selectivity about the marginal students. (CC)

Author holds that no educational research has ever shown that grades are helpful to children or to learning. He also lists eight major criticisms of the traditional grading system. (GB)

Presents the results of a research survey comparing graded and nongraded elementary schools. (Author/RK)

Although the pass-fail option proved to be popular with students, the faculty sample felt that it was being abused, and had somewhat negative attitudes toward the system. (AG)