Student learning is our highest priority. We strive in SD22 to create inclusive and equitable environments for all students to feel safe and supported in order for each child to grow and find success. Our school district is committed to providing engaging personalized learning opportunities for all of our students.
Click on the BC Curriculum to learn more about the approach to teaching and learning in SD22 and throughout BC.
COMMUNICATING STUDENT LEARNING
In September 2023, the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care introduced a new K – 12 Student Reporting Policy. Student reporting is the assessment and communication of student learning. The goal of communicating student learning (CSL) is to ensure that:
Learn more about the changes to student reporting by reviewing the K-12 Student Reporting Policy Information for Families, downloading the brochure for families (PDF), or by reading the SD22 Parent Guides below.
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Additional Information of ‘Why’ the Shift from Letter Grades in K-9 to the Proficiency Scale
The scale was piloted and parents were consulted: The province has been piloting changes to the Student Report Policy, including the use of the Provincial Proficiency Scale for Grades K-9 for the past several years. Throughout the development process, The Ministry of Education and Child Care have surveyed parents at multiple points and collaborated with the BC Confederation Of Parent Advisory Councils to do focus groups with parents and to hear their needs.
The scale unifies all other scales so every student has the same experience in BC schools: After extensive consultation and piloting, which included parents and caregivers throughout, it was decided by The Ministry of Education and Child Care that the Provincial Proficiency Scale will be used in grades K-9 in all BC schools moving forward. The Provincial Proficiency Scale unifies all BC schools on one scale, rather than the innumerable locally developed scales that are being used throughout the province in K-9, as well as the Ministry-mandated performance scale that was previously used in K-3.
The policy is research-based: Prior to the outset of piloting the upcoming reporting changes, the Ministry partnered with three post-secondaries to do a literature scan of best practices in assessment and reporting. You can find a summary, with citations on the Ministry website.
BC is a high-performing education system and is joining other high-performing jurisdictions: British Columbia is part of a movement of high-performing jurisdictions around the world that are using a variety of modernized reporting practices to communicate student learning and help all students achieve their full potential. New Zealand implemented a new reporting policy in January 2023. This policy emphasizes descriptive feedback instead of letter grades or percentages. In Finland, students in Grades comprehensive school (years 1-9 are also graded on a 7-point scale instead of using letter grades or percentages. Japan, has shifted their reporting practice in the same direction, as B.C. They use a 5-point scale to communicate student learning and take it even further with reports generally being focused on learning habits and behaviour, rather than a student’s marks. Singapore has followed suit. The shifts coming to BC are in alignment with all other high-performing jurisdictions, and based on global research of what competencies today’s learners need now to be successful in an ever-changing future.
Kids going abroad for school won’t be disadvantaged: Letter grades and percentages will remain in Grades 10-12. The Ministry of Education and Child Care has been working with the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education & Future Skills, as well as international organizations like the NCAA to ensure BC students will be successful in their transition to post-secondary and life after high school. BC has been piloting these assessment and reporting changes in BC schools since 2016. During this time, Canada remains a top-performing country in reading literacy, math, and sciences, with BC typically outperforming all other jurisdictions. There are two sources of comparative performance data: the PCAP—our own Pan-Canadian Assessment Program and PISA—the OECD’s Programme of International Student Assessment. The PISA results show Canada outperforming all other G7 countries (Canada, US, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, and Japan) in reading, only coming second to Japan in math and science. British Columbia specifically achieved significantly higher average reading scores than all G7 members. The 2019 PCAP results paint a similar picture.
Who to talk to about specific, classroom-based experiences: As for the specific experience of understanding your child’s specific report card, or for a better understanding of how your child is doing. Your child’s teachers and school leaders will be best equipped to answer your specific questions about what instruction, report cards, and reporting look like in your child’s classroom.
Staff Resources
