Grades in Washington may not indicate how well a student is doing in school, researchers say. And they worry about kids falling further behind if things don’t change. New research shows educators are awarding higher grades for work that would have received lower grades in the past, a practice known as grade inflation. At the same time, test scores among many classes are flat or declining. Experts suggest schools need to give clear, contextual signals about student progress that goes beyond grades. They’re urging school officials to discuss these gaps with families, community organizations and …