On August 26, 2025, members of provincial ministries of education from across Canada participated in a virtual roundtable on classroom assessment. The roundtable was organized in response to interest from colleagues across the country who wanted to discuss classroom assessment practices and resources. It was noted that while large-scale assessment often has dedicated departments at the jurisdictional level, classroom assessment is typically handled by a smaller team, making this roundtable an important opportunity for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
The conversations were varied and wide-ranging. The following is a synopsis of the topics covered. Members of the curriculum and assessment branches of British Columbia’s (B.C.) Ministry of Education shared information on the province’s early literacy screening program, updated K-12 student reporting policy using a proficiency scale, and the B.C. Learning Pathways project. The Nova Scotia team discussed the implementation of a renewed curriculum and structured literacy approach, including the introduction of an early literacy intervention model. They also described their use of a grading progression chart as a tool to support teacher reflection and professional learning. The tool has been particularly useful in high schools, where teachers may be hesitant to make subjective grading decisions, as it helps integrate multiple sources of information to inform instruction and address professional development needs.
The Saskatchewan participants focused on early literacy initiatives in the province, which include the Actions to Improve Literacy project. This project involves curriculum renewal, a new reading screener, and professional learning with the provincial teachers’ federation to enhance educator competency in structured literacy and phonics. The Prince Edward Island representative provided an overview of the province’s educational initiatives and progress.
Resources shared during the meeting can be accessed here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u_GyYmI7b9GKqOB-Zmb7i9nYsoOxASwQ
The following is a link to the forum recording: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/wt6BbvAmF91w1zpbUmyWg5KEtIHRfr3fN8U3FX3iL_wT-wrULbWU3gZV26i815H6.xLP2aN5o0yLTw1Yp
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