What is this grading spreadsheet for?
This simple mastery-based grading sheet was developed to show how to set up mastery- or competency-based grading without: 1) averaging or powerlaw scoring and 2) without graduated letter grades or scales. As educators, it can be hard to envision how a system like this would work, so this tool is a proof-of-concept to help  demonstrate how it can be implemented. Of course this spreadsheet cannot replace a student information system, but a teacher wanting to experiment with mastery-based feedback to learners and to parents can test it out via this tool.

What are its unique features?
No averaging and no graduated grades or scales. Daily assignments are structured as feedback to the learner to determine if they are improving and showing progress. The purpose of the daily assignments is to determine when learners are ready for demonstration of mastery, they do not count toward the “grade.”  When learners’ daily work shows enough evidence that they have “got it,” then learners do a demonstration of mastery (test, project, etc). There are 3 demos available, in case they do not succeed with the first.

How do I get started?
There are two versions of this spreadsheet, one with sample data and one that is blank. I recommend starting with the blank (if you reuse the one with data, only delete the colored boxes–many of the white cells have formulas you do not want to delete). On the far right are sheets for inputting the: Learner list (up to 30 students, use a copy of this spreadsheet for each class you teach) Learning Targets (up to 6 LTs, use a copy for each term/9-weeks/trimester). The third setup item is for you to determine the percentage that represents mastery (I recommend 90-95%, or even 100% depending on your content).

For each learning target, there is an assignment sheet (orange section, up to 11 assignments) and on the far right of the assignments you will find demonstrations of mastery (green section, up to 3 demos). To input each assignment,  at the top there are 3 orange boxes to input the Asgmt Name, Max Points, and Anticipated Date Completed. As you input scores for learners it automatically fills in the max score and Anticipated Date, but if you have learners who are working at different pace or differentiated assignments,  you can override either of those two individually.