Oklahoma City School Board hears report on A-F grading system

The grading formula accounts for everything from attendance to college entrance exams to how well students do on certain state tests from one year to the next, said Bernie Schafstall, database manager for the district.

Grades are expected to be released in the next few weeks, but board members expressed frustration at the complexity of the formula.

“I'm going to have trouble explaining this to my friends at McDonald's,” District 7 Board Member Ron Millican said.

“ ... This is a very complicated process.”

Superintendent Karl Springer said the process is complicated and difficult for educators to explain to the public.

“I can't get up and explain this, and I don't have any principals that can get up and explain it,” Springer said.

“And we're not alone.”

The complexity of the formula isn't as important as the reform itself, District 6 Board Member Jay Means said.

“I don't want to have any C's or D's,” Means said.

“I didn't have any on my personal report card, and I don't want them on my professional report card.”

The new grading system replaces the previous assessment tool, which gave schools a score on a 1,500-point scale.