1. Grade Inflation
Students are highly disengaged
from learning, are studying less
than ever, and are less literate.
Yet grades continue to rise.
* gradeinflation.com, Copyright 2002, Stuart Rojstaczer, www.stuartr.com, no fee
for not-for-profit use
3. Grade Inflation in college
WHY? …the resurgence of grade inflation in
the 1980s….caused (in part) by the
emergence of a consumer-based culture
in higher education.
Students are paying more for a product
every year, and increasingly they want
and get the reward of a good grade for
their purchase.
4. Grade Inflation
RESULTING in….
Professors are not only compelled to
grade easier, but also to water down
course content.
Both intellectual rigor and grading
standards have weakened.
The evidence for this is not merely
anecdotal……
5. Since the late 1990s, “A” has been the most
common grade awarded on four year college
campuses. Gradeinflation.com
6. Grade Inflation
The same type of argument could be made
for public high schools –
Taxpayers are paying for a product and
expecting good results.
In addition, high school GPAs are very
influential in the highly competitive
college admissions process.
7. Grade Inflation
Nearly twice as many high school students
reported earning an A or A- average in
2006 than in 1992 (32.8 percent versus
18.3 percent)
(Twenge & Campell, in press).
8. CCRPI – Grade accuracy!!
To predict how we are performing against
the measures of CCRPI, we MUST have
accurate formative measures that
effectively predict EOCT, SLO, AP and IB
performance.
9. What is being graded?
Mastery of material?
Effort?
Conduct?
Attitude?
10. Our expectations of a student are often
reflected in to their grade – more than we
are willing to admit…..
“Whether consciously or not, many
teachers incorporate their own
expectations of individual students into
the grades they award.”
11. Grade Inflation
A student’s grade should accurately reflect
their CONTENT knowledge and
understanding based on some measurable
assessment – test or performance-based.
- not what we think they know
- not their behavior
- not what they SHOULD know
