MASTERY CUT SCORES | UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE
Understanding Mastery cut scores is essential for successfully utilizing Mastery Connect. Mastery cut scores are set to default levels across the district, and choosing preferred mastery levels is a district-leadership level decision. *It is not recommended to change mastery levels during a school year as this impacts trackers, assessments, and curriculum maps.
Mastery Connect scores students on the standards being assessed on an assessment (mastery per standard) AND not the assessment itself. The assessment data will then populate in Mastery Connect based on mastery per standard according to the 80/50 split. *This is not a grade associated with an assessment. Mastery cut scores serve to quickly identify students with different instructional needs. They are not meant to label students as much as to set expectations to guide teachers and students in the next steps of their learning.
Choosing Mastery cut scores is a decision that needs to be made carefully and with much consideration. It is important to recognize that mastery of a standard and the traditional grading scale do not necessarily overlap. Mastery Connect is not a gradebook, but instead a dynamic tool to help identify mastery of standards.
MASTERY CUT SCORES | TIER LEVEL OPTIONS
3 TIER MASTERY CUT SCORES
The Mastery Connect default for 3 tier mastery levels follows an "80/50" split.
Mastery = 80-100%
Near Mastery = 50-79%
Remediation = <50%
4 TIER MASTERY CUT SCORES
The Mastery Connect default for 4 tier mastery levels follows a "100/80/50" split
Advance/Exceeds Mastery = 90-100%
Mastery = 80-89%
Near Mastery = 50-79%
Remediation = <50%
MASTERY CUT SCORES | CUSTOMIZABLE
NAMING THE TIERS
By default, the tiers utilize the above mentioned naming conventions. However, if you would like to customize your levels to match your states naming conventions, that is also an option.
Examples of naming conventions:
- Exceeds, Met, Approaching, Not Met
- Excellent, On Track, Needs Improvement
- Distinguished, Proficient, Apprentice, Novice
- Advanced, Mastery, Approaching, Unsatisfactory
PRO TIPIt is important to make these decisions at the beginning of your experience using Mastery Connect. Changing tier levels will impact your account in a variety of ways, including the data in your account and having to build new materials (curriculum maps and assessments).While the tiers are customizable, it is strongly recommended to not change mastery levels during a school year as this impacts trackers, assessments, and curriculum maps. |
FINAL THOUGHTS
It is strongly recommended that you have a consistent approach to mastery scores at the district and school levels. When a consistent approach is utilized, your data will be comparable across disciplines and grade levels.
Our Mastery Services team provides expert professional development, strategic consulting, and alternative options designed to support the vision, goals, and adoption of Mastery products. If you would like to learn more about our services check out our Professional Development Options and contact your CSM for more information!
