Understanding Newfoundland and Labrador report cards
From Kindergarten to Grade 6, report cards rate how far your child has come towards the curriculum outcomes at that point in the year, on a four-point scale. In Grades 7 to 9, each course receives a percentage mark. Report cards come home three times a year, in November, March and June.
The four levels
Not Yet Achieving1
Official meaning: Demonstrates little development towards understanding of knowledge, skills and concepts, and attempts to use them with limited effectiveness. Not meeting the required learning expectation for this point in time.
In plain words: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
Approaching2
Official meaning: Demonstrates some development towards the understanding of knowledge, concepts and skills, and attempts to use them with some effectiveness. Not meeting, but moving towards meeting, the standard expected for this point in time.
In plain words: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
Good3
Official meaning: Demonstrates considerable understanding of knowledge, skills and concepts, uses them with considerable effectiveness and produces good work.
In plain words: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
Excellent4
Official meaning: Demonstrates thorough understanding of knowledge, skills and concepts, uses them with a high degree of effectiveness and produces high-quality work.
In plain words: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Source: Newfoundland and Labrador English School District: K-6 Report Card Support Document.
What else is on the report card
A four-point rating, Kindergarten to Grade 6
4 means Excellent, 3 means Good, 2 means Approaching and 1 means Not Yet Achieving. A rating shows how your child is doing up to that point in time, and within each rating there is a range of achievement. Teachers rate several statements in each subject, such as “communicates in oral and written French” or “demonstrates and communicates number sense”.
IE and Not Applicable
IE means Insufficient Evidence to Evaluate: not enough evidence has been gathered yet to give an accurate rating. Not Applicable means your child has not yet received instruction in that area.
Social and behavioural indicators
Kindergarten to Grade 6 report cards also describe well-being and belonging, communication, social contribution and, in Kindergarten, play and exploration. These use a different scale: Consistently, Usually, With Prompting and Rarely. They are not part of the subject ratings.
Percentage marks, Grades 7 to 9
Junior high report cards give each course a mark out of 100. Marks are based on the evidence of how your child is meeting the curriculum outcomes. Under the school district’s policy, a final mark in the range of 46 to 49% is not reported. Ask your child’s teacher how a mark was worked out.
Program codes
Some students follow the curriculum with adjustments. A program code on the report card, such as PA for “prescribed with accommodations”, shows the programming your child is receiving.
Common questions
A 3 (Good) shows considerable understanding and good work. A 4 (Excellent) shows thorough understanding, a high degree of effectiveness and high-quality work.
No. A 2 (Approaching) means your child is moving towards the standard expected for that point in the year, but is not there yet. It shows where more practice will help.
No. Gradelings shows how practice is going on four steps that line up with the report card for your child’s grade, so you can see where your child is strong and where to practise. Your child’s teacher decides the rating or mark.
IE means there was not enough evidence yet to give a rating, for example early in the year or in a part of the curriculum that has only just started.
Ask your child’s teacher which outcomes to focus on, then try short, regular practice (10 to 15 minutes). Celebrate effort and progress, not just results.