Portfolio BCTF FAQ
The BC Teacher's Federation has updated their Graduation Portfolio FAQ added to their regular graduation requirements information page. There is some useful information that clarifies how to deal with portfolio issues in uncertain times.
I have highlighted a few excerpts:
Is it possible that the portfolio requirement will be scrapped altogether?
Yes, but that option may not be canvassed at the regional review forums.At the superintendents’ conference in August, the deputy minister apparently made it clear that the portfolio requirement could be revised or eliminated as a result of the review. However, ministry staff say that “during the review, educators, students and parents will revisit the original goals of the portfolio and consider how best to achieve these goals”. It is clear that ministry staff support a simplified, but still mandatory, grad portfolio.
Do teachers still have to start the portfolio in Planning 10?
Yes, teachers are still obligated to teach all the Planning 10 learning outcomes including those related to portfolio. However, teachers might want to postpone instruction on learning outcomes related to the portfolio to the end of the course in case there is a decision to eliminate the portfolio by December or January.
What about the staffing our school/district put in place to support the grad portfolio?
Staffing that is freed up as a result of the portfolio not being mandatory for this year’s graduates should be applied to the implementation of Bill 33.
The minister’s announcement came after schools and districts had finalized staffing. The announcement does not impact the amount of staffing needed to teaching Planning 10 as that is still a compulsory course. However, it will impact the amount of staffing necessary to support portfolio development by Grade 11s and 12s.
Schools that offer a portfolio class in the timetable should ask students whether they want to continue with this class or choose another elective. Schools will have to reschedule Grade 12 students who opt not to complete the portfolio, and Grade 11 students who do not want to work on their portfolios until the review is complete and the ministry has announced a decision.
Can schools or districts make the grad portfolio a requirement?
No, graduation requirements are a matter of provincial policy, not district or school policy. Students are awarded a British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (“Dogwood Diploma”) for successfully meeting the requirements established by the ministry in either the Graduation Requirements (1995 Grad Program) or Graduation Program (2004 Grad Program) Orders. Schools or districts may require students to take certain courses or programs over-and-above those established by the ministry for graduation, but students who satisfy the ministry’s graduation requirements receive a Dogwood Diploma.
Some schools and districts are trying to keep the portfolio mandatory for their Grade 12s this year. Others are strongly “encouraging” students to complete their grad portfolios. It is difficult for students to distinguish between what is encouraged and what is mandatory. It is important that districts, schools, and teachers communicate to this year’s Grade 12 students, in an honest and straightforward manner, that they have the option of not completing the portfolio, taking Standing Granted, and getting four credits.
The BCTF has also announced the regional portfolio review forum dates that will be occurring in BC. In Nanaimo, this takes place at the Dorchester Hotel on October 13th.
This BCTF FAQ is helpful at a time when some district portfolio school administrators are trying to "encourage" parents to sign up their grade 12 kids through such scare tactics as telling parents that it will be detrimental to their kids’ future to choose to have SG (Standing Granted) on their transcripts as this looks suspect.
The other misinformation being circulated is that the grade 12 students that are opting not to complete the portfolio are getting four credits through Standing Granted "for not doing anything". This is not true at the school where this information is being circulated as students in grade 12 this year were required to attend a compulsory a half semester non-credit grade 11 portfolio course last year; The total hours of which amounted to a two credit course. Furthermore, many students in some schools were also forced..oops! I mean "encouraged"...into taking a PE 11 course.
The Face of Encouragement!
Labels: Graduation Portfolio
posted by Simone @ 3:23 p.m.
4 comments
4 Comments:
So where does this leave our grade 11 students and is it mandatory for them to be completing the portfolio? I understand that students can request an exemption but its a fairly cumbersome process..... another barrier to taking a course that maybe more beneficial.
I’m assuming you are talking about an exemption from attending the grade 11 portfolio course as opposed to an exemption from completing the portfolio process as a graduation requirement; I didn’t think that there was an exemption for the graduation requirement other than the current grade 12s.
Under the circumstances of uncertainty it would have been ideal for students to not have any grade 11 portfolio course blocks scheduled in the first semester at all, but to have double the number of blocks allocated to this course in the second semester instead. That way there is time for implementing changes that come out in the fall and nobody is wasting their time doing something that may not count.
Going through a formal school course exemption process is cumbersome indeed but not entirely necessary. If you really don’t want your child in the course your child always has the option to drop the portfolio course (or any other course required for graduation) without going through an exemption process. The risk of not following school exemption procedures is that the school may not permit your child to register in another course this semester or otherwise not appreciate your making their job more difficult.
There is also the problem with timing; most schools may have finalized their course enrolments and even if your child is allowed into another course they may have quite a bit of catching up to do.
Another option to consider if you and your child feel comfortable and capable of handling independent learning is to try distributed (online) learning; it no longer costs anything and students can start and finish anytime during the year.
It is important to understand that if you decide to have your child drop the portfolio course and if the portfolio remains a graduation requirement, you will have to personally assume the responsibility of ensuring that your child completes the portfolio whether it is through distributed learning, working on it at home, or through a portfolio course next semester (assuming the school still has room in those course blocks).
Likely Ministry staff are aware of the situation grade 11 students are in and will take this into consideration, but I completely understand your concern and desire to make an unequivocally beneficial course choice for your child.
I hope this helps. Good Luck!
Personally as a mother of two secondary school students I find the whole portfolio process rediculous. These students are under enough stress already without adding anymore to it. To disallow graduation if the portfolio is not completed is asolute lunacy.
although years later. canceling the idea was a good one. Some disrects inforced it while others didn't care and think about it- I've spoken to alot of students that have said they wouldn't have finshed the big black binder and if this is true and they were to enforce the poilcys, alot of people wouldn't graduate, throwing a big blacklash to the B.C econmy as well as the younger "future" generation for B.C kids
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