A Summer Provocation

So as to keep parents in the loop about changes underway in BC’s education system, I recently sent the letter below to parents of secondary school students. While most parents have welcomed a curriculum which is more hands on, inquiry focused, and built around critical and creative thinking, communication, and personal and social responsibility, I think the rubber will meet the road for them when it comes to assessment and reporting on student progress. Hence the letter:

Dear parents,

As you know, education in British Columbia has been undergoing many changes. These changes are the result of years of research and collaboration between our education partners and the Ministry of Education. The purpose of this letter is to highlight some of these changes as we head for the fall. One of the most significant changes for our secondary schools relate to provincial exams. We anticipate that these changes may alter the exam structure in our district, as well as the calendar at the end of January and in June of next year.

Provincial Exams
Historically, students in British Columbia were assessed in the following areas:

• Grade 10: English, Math and Science;
• Grade 11: Social Studies; and
• Grade 12: English.

A student’s final grade was always a blend of the teacher assessments and the provincial exam. In grades 10 and 11, the teacher’s classroom-based assessments counted for 80% of a student’s final grade, and the exam counted for 20%. In grade 12, the teacher’s assessment counted for 60%, and the exam counted for 40%. The provincial exams themselves have always been designed and marked by teachers.

Beginning in 2016/17 there will be no provincial exams in grade 10. Rather than 80% of a student’s mark being from the teacher, 100% of the mark will be based on the teacher’s assessments. This reaffirms our trust in teachers’ classroom based assessments which are based on the standards in our provincial curriculum. Starting 2016/17 in grades 11 and 12, students will take two new provincial exams, one in numeracy (Math) and one in literacy (English). Students in grade 12 will still take the English 12 provincial exam in 2016/17.

For students headed to post-secondary institutions, it is important to note that these changes were established in partnership with our major universities. Their advice has helped to shape these changes, and they will play a critical role in developing the new provincial exam structure.

Calendar Changes
Parents and students are accustomed to a “Provincial Exam Schedule” at the end of January, and again in June. While this is technically instructional time, not all students are in attendance in our secondary schools during this time period. The above changes to the provincial exams will certainly impact how school districts organize their exam schedules. Here in Abbotsford, we are reaching out to our teachers and administrators to discuss the best designs for this exam period.

As stated above, our teachers and administrators have always been central to the process of creating and marking exams. Their feedback is essential to the direction the district will take in ensuring our students meet the standards outlined in the new provincial curriculum. These recommendations will be brought forward to the Board of Education early this fall, and will be communicated to parents shortly thereafter. Thank you for your active interest in the success of our students.

A Driving Question
The driving question for our teachers and administrators might be:

• How should our assessments be designed so that students can meaningfully demonstrate their understanding of the curricular standards and competencies?

While I have some definite thoughts on the subject (which I will share at a later date), I will be intrigued to see what our teachers and administrators come up with.

As we all ponder this question, I would like to leave everyone with two images I have come across since the government made the announcement about the changes to the graduation program and the provincial exam structure.

The first picture shows a group of students in Lianyungang, China as they prepare for college entrance examinations. The second picture shows a group of students in San Diego (High Tech High), USA, as they prepare for their examinations. Without too much commentary I would ask you to carefully examine each image, and ask ourselves the question above. More in September…

Have a great summer!

~ Kevin
Kevin Godden
Superintendent of Schools/CEO
Abbotsford School District