Standards-based grading & mastery
Track what each student has actually mastered — with your standards, your scale, and evidence that stays honest.
New evidence replaces old — mastery is a current state, never an average.
In short
Pearspark includes standards-based grading end to end: a school-defined standards catalog (CSV import), assignment tagging, per-skill mastery where the latest evidence wins (never an average), a class mastery matrix, standards report cards, and a coverage report showing what's been taught, assessed, and mastered.
Your standards, not a state dropdown
Build your catalog by hand or import it from CSV — codes, descriptions, subjects, grade levels. Classical, Montessori, state-aligned, or homegrown: the school owns the list.
Mastery that reflects growth
Tag assignments with the standards they practice and rate each student per standard. A student's current level comes from their rating history — latest evidence wins by default (or best-ever, per class) — so early stumbles never drag down a demonstrated skill. That's the whole point of standards-based grading, and averages break it.
See the class at a glance, report to families properly
The mastery matrix shows every student × every standard for a class. At term end, post official mastery ratings to standards report cards — separate from GPA transcripts, so skills-based classes never distort academic records.
The taught / assessed / mastered loop
Because lesson plans and assignments both tag standards, the coverage report shows — for every standard — how often it was taught, how often it was assessed, and the class's current mastery distribution. Untouched standards are highlighted, because finding the gaps is the point.
What's included
- School-defined standards catalog with CSV import
- Assignment tagging with a searchable picker
- Per-standard ratings on your own scale (E/S/N, 1–4, anything)
- Latest-evidence-wins mastery (or best-ever, per class)
- Class mastery matrix: students × standards
- Posted, term-official standards report cards
- Taught vs assessed vs mastered coverage report
- Mastery view in the parent portal and student profile
All of it is part of the flat price — $50/month including 20 students, then $2.50/student, stepping down with volume (see the bands). Nothing on this page is a paid add-on.
See it done in 60 seconds
All 7 videosReal screen recordings, one task per minute — no fluff.
Common questions
Does standards-based grading replace the regular gradebook?
It's per class. A class can grade traditionally, by standards, or both — skills ratings live alongside scores, and standards report cards stay separate from GPA transcripts.
Why latest-evidence instead of averaging ratings?
Because mastery is a current state, not a career average. A student who struggled in September and demonstrates the skill in March has mastered it; averaging would say otherwise. Pearspark uses the rating history so growth counts.
Can we use our own rating scale?
Yes — the scale is school-defined (E/S/N, Exceeds/Meets/Approaching, 1–4, whatever your report cards say). Pearspark doesn't impose one.
Comparing this with what you use now
Standards-based grading & mastery is part of the argument in these comparisons. Each one is sourced, last reviewed July 2026, and says plainly where the other system is the better choice.
Try it in your own school
See standards-based grading & mastery working on video — one minute per task — then set it up yourself. Your first 30 days are free.