The Concept
Effective and clear communication of student learning has always been an important aspect of public schooling and is intended to support learning, measure student achievement, and give feedback on specific areas of strength and weakness. Traditionally, this communication took the form of letter grades and generic comments and remained fairly consistent over years passed.
As learner reporting practices and education evolve to incorporate new trends and ideas, the days of rigid report cards are a thing of the past. Schools are turning away from standard grading methods and looking for solutions that provide parents with authentic and informative communication about their child’s progress and learning.
In line with today’s understanding, the purpose of a report card is to keep parents informed and involved in child’s learning. They aim to accurately reflect student achievement and elect meaningful response to feedback. Report cards promote the idea that growth is possible and supported, and indicate to students and parents where improvement is needed.