Both the Toronto and Peel District School Boards announced Tuesday they would not be able to provide elementary report cards amid the ongoing labour battle between the Ford Government and teaching unions.
In a letter to parents, TDSB Director of Education John Malloy said since teachers pulled back from their report card duties back in November as part of their job action, it's not possible for them to get done.
"We are not able to produce Term 1 report cards or the Kindergarten Communication of Learning. I want you to know that this difficult decision was made after careful consideration and a thorough review of all options," he said. "It is not possible to produce accurate report cards for the TDSB’s approximately 174,000 elementary students given the significant resources and time required to do so."
Malloy added should parents wish to speak with teachers, they can do so during the school day.
Teachers announced they would withdraw from report card work and other ministry of education work in November as part of its job action, but with no improvement, the same is happening in Peel Region.
"We know how important progress reports are to families and students, and that marks, learning skills and teacher comments are valued," Peel director of Education Peter Joshua said. "At the same time, Report Cards are not the sole nor are they the most important records of achievement data we have for your child/teen. They are simply one update on progress."
In December, the Ontario Principals Council asked the provincial government to consider various changes to report cards, including them being replaced with a simpler, standardized progress report for K-8.
The OPC also said with high school cards being more important for post-secondary applications, it asked the ministry to hire external staff to put in grades for those credit-bearing courses.
Earlier this month, the ministry said it was still reviewing the request.