Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) coming up again

The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) – tests of reading, writing and math delivered province-wide every year in Grades 4 and 7 – are coming up. Schools are expected to administer the tests between January 13 and February 21 this year.

The B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC) has  developed an FSA information kit for parents. Click here to see more information from BCCPAC: http://www.bccpac.bc.ca/resources/fsa-information-kit-parents

The B.C. Education Ministry has prepared a brochure advising parents why it thinks the tests are important. In summary, it says the tests help determine whether students are learning vital skills and improving over time, if there are any significant trends in schools, districts or across the province and how certain groups of students (such as aboriginals) are doing. Click here for more Ministry information: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/fsa/info/welcome.htm

The BCTF does not support the foundation skills assessments, and says: “The provincial government has been administering the Foundation Skills Assessment tests to all students in Grades 4 and 7 since 2000. This test does not help students learn or teachers teach. It takes valuable time and much needed resources away from the classroom learning and undermines the ability to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students.” Click here for more information on the BCTF position on FSAs: http://www.bctf.ca/fsa.aspx

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