Sandusky's youngest students will get M, P or N instead of letter grades

Kindergarten, first grade and second grade students in Sandusky City Schools will no longer bring home A's, B's and C's. Starting this school year, Sandusky Primary School and the Sandusky Early Learning Academy are using standards-based report cards with three marks in place of letter grades.

The new marks

• M: Meets Expectations
• P: Progressing
• N: Needs Improvement

In a notice to parents and guardians, the district says the new report cards are meant to give families clearer information about how a child is doing against grade-level expectations. The academic standards on the card have also been reworded so parents can read them more easily.

The change applies only to kindergarten through second grade. The notice doesn't mention any change for older students.

Family conferences Oct. 5 and 6

Families can talk with teachers at district-wide conferences:

• Monday, Oct. 5: Conferences run from 11:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 6: Conferences after dismissal.

What we don't know yet

The district says a parent FAQ and a sample report card will be shared "in the coming weeks"; neither was posted as of Sept. 30. The notice, which is undated, doesn't say when the first report cards with the new marks will go home, or how a mark is decided for each standard.

Questions go to the district office at 419-626-6940.

Sources: Sandusky City Schools, Important Update to K-2 Report Cards and District-wide Family Conferences