The provincial proficiency scale is used to provide consistent communication of student proficiency and progress in relation to established grade level standards as outlined in the current curriculum. It is expected that reporting will reflect a student’s current level of performance (proficiency).  Our focus on the curricular competencies (what our students can do) and the skills they develop offers opportunity to formatively assess our learners and determine where they are and what they need to do to improve (where to next?)  The essential purpose of assessment is to explore the extent to which students develop the curricular competencies, not the facility with which they perform specific tasks and proficiency can indicate a temporary place in time before further developing the competency. 
The Provincial Proficiency Scale
​The rationale for using proficiency language is not to replace percentages and grades with words, but to completely refocus our communication on growth and progress as opposed to achievement at a place in time.  Our learners  are more able to adjust what they are doing to improve the quality of their work as the conversation communicates learning rather than a grade or percentage.  Our goal is to involve our learners in the assessment process as we set criteria, encourage voice and set goals for improvement understanding that the proficiency is a moment in time.
 A report card with grades isn't a tool for growth as students have little investment beyond what they got as a mark, not the ways in which they can make improvements.  A letter grade or percent isn't a word that describes, but rather assigns value and that value can be different depending on where you are or how that value is assigned and assessed.

The proficiency scale offers a focus on growth where once our learners are proficient at a particular skill (established by criteria), a new set of skills or different aspects of the same skill can be introduced to further our students understanding and development.  Learning is cyclical.  Our proficiency assessments are an indication of standing in regards to the standards at a particular moment in time within the life long journey of learning.  
The Land that Went Gradeless
Our teachers created some alternative graphics that represent the provincial proficiency scale.  They are available for use and can be downloaded.
We collated a series of grade and course specific assessment tools.  Please download the documents to adapt and use them