By Troy Gillard

Decision needed now

Red Deer Public Schools calls for suspension of diploma exams

Oct 8, 2020 | 12:12 PM

Trustees from Red Deer Public Schools are calling on the provincial government to suspend Grade 12 Diploma Exams for the 2020/21 school year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diploma Exams are a standardized provincial test taken at the end of Grade 12 level core subjects and count as 30 per cent of a student’s final grade in a course. These marks are used to determine a student’s admission to post-secondary education.

“Teaching and learning for thousands of students around the province have already been interrupted when they have needed to isolate as a result of the pandemic,” said Board Chair Nicole Buchanan.

“While our teachers support continued learning while students are away from school, generally for 14 days, we are hearing there are many students who have gaps when they return to school, they fall further behind creating significant anxiety for students facing Diploma Exams. We know this is an issue and concern for school boards across the province.”

Buchanan acknowledges that Education Minister Adrianna LaGrange has said the province is monitoring the situation, but with some Diploma Exams coming up within weeks, Buchanan says a decision needs to be made now.

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While the government states early feedback from parents wanted a return to regular assessment, including provincial exams, Red Deer Public says that was early in the re-entry process and that they, conversely, are hearing increasing concerns from parents, students and staff advocating for the suspension of provincial exams given the uncertainty of COVID-19.

Schools are also concerned with the logistics of administering hundreds of Diploma Exams in a setting with a mix of students learning in school and at home as well as meeting physical distancing requirements. Running exams will be challenging, further diminishing the reliability of the results.

“Given the multiple challenges schools have faced this year, we are confident that in-class assessment by teachers will provide a true picture on student knowledge and understanding of course outcomes,” said Superintendent Chad Erickson. “Given their high stakes, as well as the uncertainty of COVID-19, it’s important to know whether exams are on or off. We don’t want Diploma Exams to disadvantage students—we want what is best for all students across the province.”

The Board will present an emergent resolution to the Alberta School Boards Association Fall General Meeting calling for the change.

LaGrange has already made Provincial Achievement Tests (standardized provincial assessments taken by students in Grades 6 and 9 for core courses) optional at the discretion of the school board. Red Deer Public says it is finalizing its decision on whether these exams will be offered or not in the next few weeks.

(With file from media release)