The district had been using a traditional form of reporting when a new grading scale was adopted that used numbers to rate students’ performance. Instead of reporting a single grade in each subject, the new report card called for teachers to evaluate the child on each of several indicators using numbers. Under the plan, 1 stood for inconsistent progress, 2 meant the student was progressing slowly, 3 represented moderate progress,4 substantial progress, and a 5. Meant that the child had achieved. Finally, 6 indicated that the child was excelling [Olson,1995]