The District is supporting a three-year pilot project starting in the 2019-2020 school year which would involve students in grades 7 to 9 not completing final year end examinations. The rationale for this proposal is that historically there has been an overemphasis on summative testing (Mid-year and Final Examinations) in grades 7 to 12. There is little research to suggest that the time and resources that goes into the preparation and completion of these exams has any positive impact on student achievement.

To approve this pilot, administration will work with staff to reach consensus in order to participate in the pilot. Approval of the School Council will be required in order to take part. Schools that indicate interest will agree to cancel final examinations for a three-year period commencing in 2019-2020. However, schools will be able to “opt in” and “opt out” for any year during the pilot. During this three-year period (2019-2022) the District will monitor student achievement in the pilot schools to determine if there is a positive impact on overall student achievement and other measures of student success. At the end of the pilot, the committee will make a recommendation to the District to establish a consistent system wide approach to final examinations for all Intermediate Grades.

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