Student achievement is the number one focus of B.C.’s education system, and processes are in place to measure achievement at the individual student level as well as the broader school and system levels.
Students' individual progress is reported to parents confidentially through report cards, parent-teacher interviews and, in the higher grades, through exam results. To measure progress at a broader level, and target areas that may need improvement, schools also take part in province-wide, national and international assessments.
The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) is an annual test, mandated by the Ministry of Education and conducted across B.C. for Grades 4 and 7 students. Beginning in 2008, the FSA will be held in February and some sections will be completed online. Parents will receive results, along with their child’s written portions of the test, by the end of March. Further information can be found on the FSA website, www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/fsa.
The main purpose of the assessment is to help the province, school districts, schools and school planning councils evaluate how well students are achieving basic skills, and make plans to improve student achievement.
Most years, B.C. also takes part in a number of national and international student assessments. For these programs, only a sample of students from B.C. schools participates. Results are reported at the provincial, national and/or international level, and may help identify ways to improve the broader provincial educational program. Click here to learn more about national and international assessments.