Lowering the Standards with Standards Referenced Grading

Since when is a 59.5% a passing grade? And why is a 1 on a scale of 1 to 4 acceptable? Standard Referenced Grading has changed the standards that our youth live up to. This fall our school district has gone to 100% standard grading. We have a senior in high school and after parent teacher conferences, it left me certain that standardized grading has truly lowered the academic standards for our children. It is not just about education & learning; it is about holding our youth accountable and creating good work habits that will transfer into college or the trades and eventually the workplace for these young adults.