When you were in school and the teacher returned a test or assignment, chances are that everyone in the class rushed to compare their marks. The marks encouraged comparison instead of focusing on what students were learning. Learning used to focus on memorization and testing, but we now understand that real learning is about applying knowledge in meaningful ways. BC’s redesigned curriculum maintains core subjects like reading, writing, and math while also emphasizing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving for the future. This approach focuses on students' strengths and views learning as ongoing. To align with these changes, the way teachers report student progress is evolving to better reflect modern learning approaches. This shift ensures consistency across the province and supports a more meaningful understanding of student growth.
Students come to school knowing different things. And the things they know shape what they learn next. Your child will likely be Emerging or Developing at different times in the school year and in different areas of learning. But they will not always start at Emerging or Developing at the beginning of the school year. And it won’t just be at the end of the school year that they get
to Proficient. Proficient does not mean learning stops. If a child starts with Proficient understanding or gets to Proficient during the school year, the goal for them is to further their learning.
Emerging
Emerging means your child is beginning to understand something in an area of learning. They are still learning but may need more support to move ahead. Emerging doesn't mean your child is unsuccessful in this area.
Developing
Developing means your child understands some things in an area of learning but still has other areas to work on. Like Emerging, it doesn't mean your child is unsuccessful in this area.
Proficient
Proficient is the goal for your child. It's also the goal for all students. When your child is Proficient, it means they fully understand the required learning. But it doesn't mean their leanring stops.
Extending
Extending is when students show a deeper understanding. It's when your child is able to apply their learning in new and different ways. Extending is not the goal for all students in every area of learning.
Report Cards are now known as Learning Updates (midterm) and Learning Summaries (final).
Comments provide space for teachers to write personalized feedback to students and their families. Teachers will use concise, plain-language and specific examples about your child's learning and progress in a subject/course. Teachers will comment on:
what the student is able to do AND
an area of growth and what the student can do to move towards this goal.
Any comments about student behaviour and work habits must also be expressed in the written comments.
If your child is in Grades K-9, you won’t see letter grades on their report card. Instead, you will see information on where your child is on the Provincial Proficiency Scale. The proficiency scale makes learning the focus rather than the comparison with others.
The proficiency scale lets you know where your child is in their learning, and what they need to work on.
Along with the information provided by the proficiency scale, you will receive written comments from your child’s teacher to give you even more information about what your child can work on.
If your child is in Grades 10-12, you will continue to see letter grades and percentages. You will also see written comments because descriptive feedback will now be part of all report cards in Grades K-12.
If your child has missed a significant period of the school year, teachers may decide it is appropriate to assign Insufficient Evidence (IE) to indicate that they don't have enough evidence to provide an accurate assessment for your child at that time. If the child is able to show learning during the course, the IE can be converted to a Proficiency Scale Indicator for K-9 or a Percentage for Grades 10-12. Please speak to your child's teacher if they are receiving an IE on their Learning Update or Learning Summary.
If you'd like more information, the BCMinistry of Education has developed a website to share many resources to help parents and families understand the new Reporting Order.
Resources included on the Ministry of Education webpage:
Communicating Student Learning for Parents and Caregivers Package
Available in 8 languages (please visit this link for more options)
Watch this 30-minute presentation from Ministry of Education and Child Care staff for more information about K-12 student reporting in BC.