Ministry of Education Guidelines: Continuity of Learning During COVID-19
The Ministry of Education has outlined its guidelines for the continuity of student learning during school closures for COVID-19. An overview of these guidelines is included below.
HOURS OF LEARNING:
The minimum number of hours for learning for each student, by grade, refers to the approximate amount of time students will spend on work assigned by their teachers.
For Kindergarten to Grade 3 students: five hours per week, with a focus on literacy and math.
For Grade 4 to Grade 6 students: five hours per week, with a focus on literacy, math, science and social studies.
For Grade 7 and Grade 8 students: 10 hours per week, with a focus on core math, literacy, science and social studies.
For Grade 9 to Grade 12 students: three hours per week, per course, to achieve credits and/or graduation.
ASSESSMENT FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS:
Elementary teachers will use formative assessment approaches to gather evidence of how students are progressing in their learning during COVID-19.
Teachers will provide feedback to students on their progress, however, no summative evaluation will be required.
FINAL REPORT CARDS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS:
There will be final report cards for all elementary students in 2019-20.
In determining final grades or marks, teachers will use the evaluation information gathered before March 13. When in the best interest of students, teachers will include evidence of learning completed during the school closure period.
Reporting on Learning Skills and Work Habits will also reflect information gathered prior to March 13. Teachers will include comments on the final report card if they feel that doing so would support a student’s progress.
The Kindergarten Communication of Learning will be based on teachers’ observations of key learning and growth prior to March 13. Teachers can choose to include comments on growth in learning demonstrated during the school closure period when it is to the child’s benefit.
ASSESSMENT FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS:
Secondary students will be assigned learning tasks, projects and culminating activities that will be marked by their teachers for the purposes of formative and summative evaluation during COVID-19.
Teachers will communicate the results of these marked assignments to students and the results will be used by teachers to inform students’ final course marks.
For students enrolled in Civics and Citizenship and Career Studies half-credit courses, their final mark for the half-credit course underway at the time of school closures will be based on work completed as of March 13. Where appropriate, teachers may adjust this mark in the best interest of students to be a more accurate reflection of their learning. Students are not required to complete any further culminating assignment for this course. Students should begin working on the other half-credit course on April 6.
MID-TERM MARKS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS:
Mid-term marks are only required for graduating studentsand will represent the most accurate reflection of student work, based on what is reasonable and in the best interest of students. In determining mid-term marks for the admissions process, teachers may use evidence that reflects work completed prior to the school closure period, as well as provide an opportunity for students to submit missed and/or additional assignments to demonstrate their learning.
Mid-term marks will be shared with students, however, a traditional (i.e., physical) mid-term report card will not be distributed by schools for any students.
FINAL REPORT CARDS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS:
There will be final report cards for all secondary students in 2019-20.
Marks will represent the most accurate reflection of student work, based on what is reasonable and in the best interest of students during this time. Marks will recognize work completed up to March 13, with room for improvement based on achievement during the COVID-19 closure period. Teachers can adjust the weighting of assigned tasks in their determination of a final mark. It is important for students to understand that learning during this time is fundamental to learning next year, and impacts overall success moving forward.
Reporting on Learning Skills and Work Habits will reflect information gathered prior to March 13. Teachers should choose to include comments on the final report card.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS:
The Ministry of Education is working with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to ensure no student’s graduation or transition to post-secondary education is jeopardized as a result of the current school closures.
In collaboration with the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), marks for graduating students will be submitted by school boards between April 23 and May 1.
In collaboration with the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS), marks for graduating students will be submitted by school boards between April 23 and May 1.
The secondary school graduation requirement of 40 hours of community involvement has been suspended for the 2019-20 school year