Editor’s note: This story was corrected on November 29th to note that the ETFO is only cancelling report cards for the fall.
TORONTO — Kindergarten students in the city usually get two report cards per school year, but not anymore.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has confirmed its members will no longer be providing fall progress reports for children in kindergarten.
In an emailed statement to Global News, the ETFO said report cards for kindergarten students are not mandated by the provincial government.
For its part, the government explained there’s no province-wide directive on progress reports for its youngest students because their policy was established in 2010 — before full day kindergarten was in place.
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In an emailed statement Education Minister Liz Sandals said the government has been working on a new policy.
“Our expectation is that during this period of transition, teachers will ensure parents have the information they need about the progress of their child,” she said.
At least one expert is warning that it’s absolutely crucial that kindergarten students get progress reports.
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions,” said Charles Pascal, Professor with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
He explained that tracking the development of four- and five-year-olds is critical.
“The younger the kids are, the more important observations about those things are in terms of intervening where necessary, raising question marks about learning disabilities and other things,” Pascal said, adding that he believes there will still be a lot of “informal” reporting going on.
At Greenland Public School in the city’s north end, several parents of kindergarten students took the news in stride.
One mother wondered how parents would know what their children are doing, but then added she was looking forward to “observation day” where parents spend time in their child’s class to get a firsthand look.
How much of a loss it will be, varies from district to district.
Kindergarten students in public schools in Toronto, Durham and York School Districts for example would have received two report cards per school year.
In Halton, they only received one a year.
In the absence of formal report cards, Pascal emphasized parents need to be proactive in seeking out feedback from their children’s teachers.
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