Grades differ significantly from school to school and class to class. West Windsor-Plainsboro parents deserve to know what grades really mean.

Schools should describe exactly what's included in each grade - quizzes, participation, attendance, homework?

Schools should also display each student's state test results for math, reading and science alongside the letter grades on the final report card.

West Windsor-Plainsboro should name math and reading as a priority in their strategic plan.

The school district needs to set numerical goals for math and reading performance that can be tracked over time.

While math and reading aren't the only skills that matter, they are essential for every child's success.

At any time in the school year, parents should be able to know how their child is performing against grade-level expectations.

Provide parents with real-time access to all formative assessments - benchmarks, screenings, and diagnostics.

Ensure each student has a plan to improve, with parents and teachers working together to track progress against the plan.