New exams, attendance rules greeting students heading back to class
· Toronto Sun
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Ontario students heading back to school this fall can look forward to new measures meant to combat absenteeism and slipping academic standards.
High school students across the province, according to changes introduced by the Ministry of Education earlier this year, will now be graded on their attendance.
Only 65% of an Ontario secondary school student’s final mark will be based on completed coursework — those in Grades 9 and 10 will have 20% of their grade based upon mandatory testing and 15% on attendance and participation, while those in their final two years of high school will have 25% of their final mark based on mandatory final evaluations, and 10% on attendance.
“Exams for remote learning and online courses offered through school boards will be written in person at each student’s home school location or another location if required, unless the school board is able to provide online proctoring with security and integrity,” the education ministry said online.
Beginning this school year, the ministry said, most high school courses “will require written exams as a percentage of the final course mark,” and, with the exception of mandatory Grade 9 math assessments, will be written during designated exam periods.
Cutting class will impact grades
Students will not only be evaluated on how well they perform, but also how often they show up for class.
“To recognize the impact that student presence in class has on achievement, final student grades will reflect attendance and participation. Excused absences do not negatively affect a student’s mark,” the ministry said.
“Excused absences are absences from school that are permitted under legislation or school policy, as outlined in Ontario’s enrolment register instructions.”
Excused absences include those for illness or other unavoidable situations, as well as bad weather or cultural and holy days.
Students will be separated into four levels — level 1 for students who skip over 10% of their classes and don’t participate in class, to level four for those who do participate and skip up to 2.5% of their classes.
Dollars and sense
Starting this year, students who entered Grade 9 last year will be required to complete courses in financial literacy before being allowed to graduate.
“To meet the requirement, students will have to earn a mark of 70% or higher on the financial literacy modules,” the ministry said, adding it will make up 5% of their final mark in Grade 10 Career Studies.
“ Students will have 2 attempts during the Grade 10 course to complete the requirement. For students requiring multiple attempts to meet the requirement, the highest attempt mark will be used as part of the final mark in Career Studies.”