Learning, Assessment and Reporting during this time

SD83 would like to acknowledge the many challenges families are facing during school suspension and parent efforts in support of Home Learning Opportunities. We will continue to do our best to provide contact, connection, communication and learning opportunities.

We would like to share the following clarifications from the recent Ministry of Education FAQ on Continuity of Learning as well as for those in the graduation program (grades 10-12).

Kindergarten to Grade 9
Learning/Educational Activities 
These are exceptional times and while it is important for children to continue learning, there is no expectation that the pace and rigour of a normal school day be duplicated at home. 

Teachers will continue to provide learning opportunities and reach out to families and students. Student involvement with Parent/Caregiver support will depend on the age and ability of the child, access and the time that parents/caregivers are able to give or make available for teacher contact. Every family will need to determine what works best for them in discussion with their children’s teachers.

Marks, Reporting and Assessments 
Will all students receive a final grade for each course they are enrolled in? Yes, all students will receive a final grade/mark for each course they are enrolled in Teachers will consider those students whose learning needs or circumstances may require unique approaches to assessment.
These clarifications will guide our decisions in SD 83 with respect to reporting. Given that we have been providing optional learning activities to families, June report card grade marks will be generated by : 

• the teacher’s professional judgment regarding assessments and learning demonstrated in terms 1 and 2 used to determine a final grade for June (no mark for term 3), 

or

• a ‘third term mark’ plus an improved mark or ‘same mark’ for the final grade based on demonstrated learning that has occurred during home learning opportunities in term 3. 

Therefore: No student will have a lower final grade than they would have had prior to Spring Break. However, students may ‘improve’ their grade if they demonstrate a higher level of understanding through their home learning after Spring Break. 
Assessment of additional learning is best determined individually by each teacher in conversation with students or from a personally observed task completion/understanding, rather than through the collection of written assignments. 

Interim Reporting K-9 
If your school had an interim reporting period scheduled between Spring Break and June, then teachers should do their best to provide their student and parent with an update on their learning. Again, this update will depend on family and student availability/participation. 

For students who are engaging regularly in the home learning opportunities provided, a phone call, email, or Teams meeting with the parent should occur. For those families who are not participating, an ongoing check-in with the family to see if there is any form of support they need is recommended. 

A downloadable copy of the information is available here: https://conta.cc/3eZj1hF

Students in Grades 10-12

Staff has also been working through the recent Ministry of Education clarifications, and wish to now share our School District’s guiding principles regarding assessment, reporting, and learning for students in Grades 10-12 during the suspension of in-class learning.

Since these students are in the BC Graduation Program and are earning credits, their learning will look different from students in the earlier grades.
Learning in Grades 10-12 will be guided by the following concepts:

• Learning opportunities will be provided to all students that will prepare them for next year, knowing that next year may be secondary school, post-secondary, or the workforce. The invitations and encouragement will be ongoing.

• Plans for students may be highly individualized to best support their needs.

• Efforts will be made to present the most important concepts in the curriculum areas without creating an overwhelming workload. Targeted learning time for each course should be 1-3 hours per week.

Assessment and reporting in Grades 10-12 will be guided by the following expectations:

• We recognize that students have circumstances that are beyond their control, and we will focus on ensuring that students are not penalized for this.

• Students will not fail courses they were passing prior to Spring Break, regardless of engagement levels. Appropriate final marks will be assigned by teachers, which may include the use of Standing Granted (SG).

• Final marks will be based on a cumulative picture of student learning, not on what they have or have not completed. Students who were not passing courses prior to Spring Break will be given the opportunity to improve their mark between now and the end of the school year.

• Students hoping to earn a B or A level will be expected to engage in the learning presented by their teachers because these grades are an indication of superior achievement. This will also confirm that interim marks will be provided this week for each enrolling class, but effort marks and comments will not be included. These interim marks will be communicated through email and conversation, and will be uploaded into the provincial TRAXX system for post-secondary access.

Final report cards will be produced in June that include percentages, work habits, and comments for each course. Students and parents with questions are invited to reach out to their school staff for further information.

A downloadable copy of the information is available here:  https://conta.cc/3eYXG80