Communicating with families
Parents and guardians often learned school through points, averages, and one final grade. Proficiency-based grading asks them to read objectives and evidence instead. A short, consistent story early in the term prevents surprise calls after the first major assignment.
What families are really asking
| Common question | What they need to hear |
|---|---|
| “Why is my student at Not Yet?” | The rating describes this submission’s evidence for a named objective—not a label on the student. |
| “How can the grade be low if they turned work in?” | Turning work in starts the process; proficiency levels describe how well the work meets each objective. |
| “Will resubmissions inflate grades?” | Revisions are bounded by your policy (windows, attempt limits) and tied to stronger evidence. |
| “How does this become a letter grade?” | Point to your published benchmark mapping from demonstrated levels to A–F. |
Messages that land
- Lead with objectives. Name two or three course outcomes and what Satisfactory evidence looks like—before discussing any one assignment.
- Separate level from character. A Not Yet or developing level is feedback on the work product, with a path forward when revision is allowed.
- Show the same view students see. If your LMS or grade export includes objective breakdowns, walk through one example together (redact other students’ names).
- Align with your syllabus. Reference the same revision windows, excused-work rules, and benchmark table you gave students.
Privacy and boundaries
Follow your institution’s FERPA guidance about what you may share with parents or guardians (especially for college students). When in doubt, discuss trends and policies—not other students’ work—and invite the student to join the conversation when appropriate.
In TeachFront
Students see objective-level feedback and proficiency ratings in the grading workspace view. When families ask for detail, point them to what the student can show in View your grade calculations rather than re-explaining partial credit from memory.