How can teachers give letter grades to ESL students or students with special needs?
The Ministerial Order clearly states that a letter grade can only be assigned for a student with special needs or for an ESL student where the student is able to demonstrate her or his learning in relation to the learning outcomes for the course or subject and grade. Until an ESL student is able to demonstrate her or his learning in relation to the expected learning outcomes set out in the curriculum for the course or subject and grade, the student’s report card contains written comments only. Unless a student with special needs who has an IEP is able to demonstrate her or his learning in relation to the expected learning outcomes set out in the curriculum for the course or subject and grade, the student’s report card contains written reporting comments only. The written comments must address the student’s progress in relation to the expected outcomes set out in the student’s IEP. In both cases, written reporting comments must include what the student is able to do, the areas in which
