1. REPORT CARDS IMPROVEMENTS GRADES 1–8
Information for Parents
Facilitator Notes:
We have been revising report card templates over the last 2 school years.
Last year we aligned the Learner Profile into categories P-12.
This year we have improved our Reporting codes and descriptors and we are providing clarification for teachers in writing anecdotal comments.
OCTOBER 2013

2. Purpose of a Report Card
To give parents a summary of how well their child is learning.
Report Cards have a long history in education and have existed in many formats.
The challenge has always been how to summarize a few months worth of learning and communicate that summary effectively.
Report Cards are not the only place, nor the only time, that a parent/guardian receives information about their child's progress and achievement.
Teachers and schools use their communication plans to outline the ways they will use to communicate and the ways a parent can communicate with them.

3. Nova Scotia Report Cards
Two major areas we report on
Attendance
Learner Profile
Grade*
Anecdotal Comment
*Grades 1–12 receive a grade.
Social Development
Work Habits
Student achievement
in relation to the
learning outcomes
We report on two broad areas; Social development and work habits and student achievement in relation to outcomes. These provide an overall summary of learning to date.
Attendance and the Learner Profile both address social development and work habits which highly impact academic achievement and are greatly valued.
The grade and anecdotal comment address student achievement, in relation to the learning outcomes, to date.

4. Learner Profile: Social Development and Work Habits
These are reported on the Learner Profile.
4 main categories
Classwork and assignments
Interacts with others
Organizational skills
Responsibility and Independence
The Learner Profile reports on the frequency that a student demonstrates these important skills/habits.
Grades Primary – 6 report on each item using the codes: C- consistently, U-Usually, P-With Prompts and R- Rarely
Grades 7–12 report on each item using the codes: C- consistently, U-Usually, S- Sometimes and R- Rarely

5. Here is a sample of the Grade 1 Learner Profile where each items is reported on.

6. Here is a sample Grade 7 which shows that 7–12 report by the category.

7. Nova Scotia Report Card
The Primary report card has three components:
attendance
learner profile
anecdotal comments
Grades 1–12 report cards have four components:
grade
These are the components of the provincial report card template. So all report cards, whether English, French Immersion, International Baccalaureate have these components.
Attendance is communicated on the report card. It is automatically populated through PowerSchool.
The Learner Profile communicates social development and work habits.
The Grade is a code that represents a summary of the quality of learning.
In Grades 1–8 it has a focus on the understanding and application of skills and concepts in relation to the learning outcomes.
In Grades 9-–12 it has a focus on the quality of performance in relation to the expected learning outcomes..
Anecdotal comments summarize learning to date in a course/subject. These comments focus on the learner and their learning.

8. Why were changes made to the Report Card for Grades 1–8?
We wanted to improve report cards to clearly answer this question, “How well is my child doing?”
Our previous reporting codes/descriptors reported on how many outcomes were met- most, some, few
So we have
New descriptors to describe the quality of the learning to date
Clarifications around the anecdotal comment purpose and format

9. Reporting Descriptors for Grades 1–8
Reporting Code
Reporting Descriptors for Grades 1–8
effective September 1, 2013 A
The student demonstrates achievement with thorough understanding and application of concepts and skills in relation to the expected learning outcomes. B
The student demonstrates achievement with good understanding and application of concepts and skills in relation to the expected learning outcomes. C
The student demonstrates achievement with basic understanding and application of concepts and skills in relation to the expected learning outcomes. D
The student demonstrates achievement with limited understanding and application of concepts and skills in relation to the expected learning outcomes. The student has not met expectations.
N/A
Not applicable at this time.
INS
Insufficient evidence to report on achievement of the expected learning outcomes.
Review each descriptor
understanding and application of concepts and skills
descriptor words bolded

10. Why might I See N/A? N/A means Not applicable at this time
You might see this in the Mathematics section of the report card for a strand.
And, you might see it if your child is taking part in the Grade 6 Intensive French.
It is possible that a grade of N/A could be reported in a term for a particular strand of Mathematics with the exception of Number.
If your child is in Grade 6 Intensive for the first half of the year, you may see it first term for some subjects.

11. Why might I see INS—Insufficient Evidence?
This code would be used if a teacher did not have any or had very little assessment evidence to be able to report on student achievement, in certain situations.
For example:
You might see this if your child moved into a new school very close to a reporting period. Teachers in the new school would not have had enough time to gather information in order to report.
If your child has been absent for a significant amount of time dues to illness, injury, etc.

12. What is the purpose of the anecdotal comment?
An anecdotal comment is intended to provide a bit more detail on your child's achievement by commenting on a strength(s), a need(s), and a suggestion(s) for further learning within that course/subject.

13. After reading the report card a parent should
Understand clearly how your child is doing in that class/ subject
Understand that your child has an area(s) of strength
Understand that your child has an area(s) of need
Understand what can be/will be done to support/further your child's learning
Our changes in the template and consistent guidelines for writing anecdotal comments should mean that the report card in total gives you, the parent, this information. The report card should confirm what you already know about your child's progress and achievement through ongoing communication between you and the teacher(s).

14. What do I do if I have more questions?
Always start with your child's teacher(s)!
Your child's teacher(s) is always the place to start!