The Vancouver School District is changing how we share information about how elementary students are progressing in their learning. This change reflects BC's redesigned curriculum – that prepares students with the necessary skills for their future.

Elementary students may have new report cards this year as we transition to the new format. Reports will use strengths-based language and a proficiency scale. The renewed reporting helps give parents and students a full picture of how students are doing at school, how their learning is developing and areas of focus to continue progressing.

This update in assessing and reporting students' learning is now called Communicating Student Learning (CSL). It provides regular and ongoing information sharing that allows both learners and parents to gauge where children are at in their learning, what they are working toward, and, the ways in which that learning can be supported.

Reporting schedule
Parents can expect to receive a minimum of five communications about their child's learning throughout the school year.

• Two formal written reports – one in January and another in June.
  They will indicate where the child is in relation to the age/grade expectations using written comments and a competency scale.
• A minimum of three informal communications with families (timing at the teacher's discretion).
  These ongoing updates can occur in different ways, such as:
  • conferences with a student, their parent(s) and their teacher
  • electronic portfolio reviews
  • parent/teacher meetings
  • student reflections on their work
  • online platforms
  • telephone conversations
  • interim written reports

Report card format
The report cards will include:

• Written comments describing:
  • student learning strengths
  • areas for growth
  • ways to support learning
• A student competency scale (in relation to grade level expectations):
  • BEGINNING to acquire knowledge, skills, strategies and processes
  • DEVELOPING the ability to apply knowledge, skills, strategies and processes
  • APPLYING knowledge, skills, strategies and processes consistently
  • EXTENDING knowledge, skills, strategies and processes creatively and strategically.

The transition is being phased-in over the next two school years (2019-2020 – 2020-2021). This means some kindergarten to Grade 7 classes will continue to receive the traditional report card this year, and other classes will receive the updated strengths-based reporting using a proficiency scale. In the 2020-2021 school year, all elementary school teachers will use the updated reporting format.

Similar changes are planned for secondary schools in the 2020-21 school year.

This approach follows a successful two-year pilot project involving 70 elementary schools and reflect extensive feedback from parents throughout the pilot.

The update in assessment and reporting provides students with meaningful information and feedback about their learning, so that they can monitor their progress towards the learning goals they have set. Parents are involved as partners in a dialogue about their child's progress, and the best ways to support and improve learning.

Watch the video and visit the Assessment and Reporting page for further details.
View our FAQs for parents.
Learn more about BC's designed curriculum.