LETTER: Report cards will go to parents
By Contributor
To Parents/Guardians:
The purpose of this letter is to share current information with you regarding the job action being taken by the members of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF).
The Deputy Minister of Education has directed school districts to ensure that formal report cards are provided for each student, as required by legislation. However, during the job action being taken by members of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), teachers are required neither to complete nor distribute formal report cards for students as these services are considered by the Labour Relations Board to be “non-essential.”
Teachers are not required to provide any student assessment data to administrators or the school office, except grade 12 marks required for graduation, post-secondary applications, and scholarship purposes.
In October, the BC Public Sector Employers’ Association, (BCPSEA) submitted a request to the labour board to reconsider their designation of report cards as a “non-essential” service and require teachers to complete report cards. On Nov. 29 the labour board announced it will not change its decision.
In order to ensure that the school district is acting within the parameters of the relative laws, each student will be issued a formal report card from the district that includes attendance information, the names of the student’s teacher(s), the signature of the principal, and information regarding student achievement in classes that are taught by administrators, who are not members of the BCTF. Report cards will be circulated to parents before the winter break commences on Dec. 16.
Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teachers if you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress.
Sincerely,
Michael Strukoff
Superintendent of Schools/CEO
michael.strukoff@sd51.bc.ca
