FSA Information Gr.4 and Gr.7

There has been some confusion around the letter sent home by the BC Teachers’ Federation regarding the Foundation Skills Assessments (FSAs) that are written each year by our grade 4s and 7s.  In SD83, we do use information generated by the FSAs and other assessments to assist in allocating additional resources to literacy and numeracy programs to address specific areas of concern revealed by this assessment.

Though recently distributed letters from the BC Teachers’ Federation were sent home asking parents to excuse their children from writing the mandatory FSA exam, we understand that Ministry of Education guidelines allow for the exclusion of students only under the following conditions:

• Family emergency
• Lengthy illness
• Other extenuating circumstances

We will be starting the FSAs the week of October 21 here at North Shuswap Elementary.  I would be happy to discuss your concerns or questions regarding the administration of the FSA next week.  Please feel free to give me a call at the office.

More information about our district’s position on the FSAs can be found on the School District No. 83 website at https://sd83.bc.ca/2019/09/27/fsa-tests-support-student-learning/.