Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting

All assessment, evaluation and reporting in Ontario schools is based on the policies and practices described in Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting In Ontario Schools, First Edition, Covering Grades 1 to 12.

Reporting on the Revised Language Curriculum (Grade 1-8) 

Starting September 2023, schools across Ontario began implementing the new Language curriculum. A Parent’s Guide to Language, Grade 1-8 (2023) has been developed by the Ontario Ministry of Education to support families in learning more about the revised curriculum. 

Student achievement in Language will now be reported as one overall grade or mark with supporting comments. In the past, the report card reflected a grade or mark in each of the four strands of Language (Oral Communication, Reading, Writing, and Media Literacy). Now, this revised report card grade or mark represents a student's achievement of the overall curriculum expectations, and considers the student’s integrated learning across all four strands of the new Language curriculum: 

• Literacy Connections and Applications
• Foundations of Language
• Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
• Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

Student achievement in individual strands is reflected in comments related to their learning, strengths, and next steps.

Early Reading Screening (ERS)

A screening measure is a quick and informal evidence-based test that provides information about possible reading difficulties (Ontario Human Rights Commission, Right to Read Report). As outlined by the Ministry of Education, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, the Kindergarten Communication of Learning and the Elementary Provincial Report Card, Grades 1-6 will include a new section titled “Early Reading Screening'' (ERS). 

On the report, there are checkboxes where results of early reading screening are recorded, along with the date of screening. Report cards will indicate if the student has completed the early reading screening and if the student has met the screening benchmark. 

As implementation is voluntary at this time, for the 2023-2024 Term 1 and 2 reporting period, all students will have the NA box selected for ERS. In the coming months, training on a Ministry-approved screening tool will be offered to primary educators in advance of mandatory implementation in the fall.

Beginning in Fall 2024, students in Year Two Kindergarten to Grade Two will participate in Early Reading Screening.

Report Cards

Elementary school students will receive a progress report card in November and a provincial report card in February and June.  Learn more in the elementary school report cards brochure.

Secondary school students will receive two provincial report cards each semester. An interim report is also issued after the first six weeks of instruction. Learn more in the secondary school report cards brochure.

Report card templates are also available.  For further information, please speak with your child's teacher.

Final Evaluations/Examinations

All secondary students must participate in the final summative assessment(s). These assessments make up the final evaluation representing 30 percent of your report card grade. You are expected to complete all final summative assessments at the place, date and time indicated by the teacher and by the examination schedule provided by the school. Students cannot leave early for vacations, employment or other activities such as summer camps during the examination schedule.

In the case of extenuating circumstances (e.g. bereavement, court appearance or when you are unable to write an exam because of illness explicitly stated on a medical certificate), the principal will decide, in consultation with the subject teacher, the most appropriate method to determine your final standing in the course. This may include an opportunity to participate in the portion missed. Documentation supporting an absence must be presented in all cases.

In the case of an unexcused absence, a zero may be assigned for the missed portion of the final evaluation assessment and used in determining the final percentage mark on the report card.

For more information, see the Assessment, Evaluation and Communication of Student Learning and Achievement Policy and related procedures.