I'm a dedicated teacher in British Columbia, working closely with students from grades 8 to 12. Over the years, I've observed a troubling trend: students in grades 8 and 9 are not developing the resilience and understanding they need to succeed in later years. The current grading system, based on proficiency rather than percentages, leaves them unaware of their standings or academic progress. This lack of clarity becomes glaringly apparent when they transition to grade 10, encountering a significant academic leap.

Under the proficiency scale, students receive grades such as 'emerging', 'developing', 'proficient', or 'extending'. This system, while seemingly comprehensive, fails to communicate crucial details about a student's specific strengths and weaknesses. It blurs the line between competence levels and makes it challenging for both students and their parents to precisely gauge academic progress or pinpoint areas needing improvement. As a result, students are often blindsided by sudden drops in performance when they transition to learning environments where percentage grading is used.

Percentage grades provide a clear, numerical indicator of performance that can better prepare students for real-world tasks. They not only foster a better understanding of academic expectations but also encourage a growth mindset by allowing students to see incremental improvements and understand that small failures are a part of learning and growth.

Parents, too, can benefit significantly from a grading system that offers more precision. With percentage grades, they can easily track their child's progress over time, make well-informed decisions about additional support or resources, and maintain realistic expectations regarding academic performance.

Let's push for a return to percentage-based grading for grades 8 and 9 in British Columbia. This change is essential for building a solid academic foundation, nurturing resilience, and ensuring that students, along with their families, have a clear understanding of their educational journey. Please sign this petition to help implement this essential change in our educational system.