If you have a child in the New Brunswick school system, you will want to pay attention to a new education policy unfolding in Ontario. Ontario now ties a student’s final grade directly to their classroom attendance. Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson says chronic absenteeism is a top priority for New Brunswick.

Johnson confirms New Brunswick has no plans to link attendance with final grades this year. However, she notes the province is very curious about the results in Ontario. If the policy succeeds there, New Brunswick plans to consider adopting a similar approach.

How the Ontario Policy Works

Under the new rules in Ontario, attendance and participation make up 15 percent of final grades for students in Grades 9 and 10. For students in Grades 11 and 12, attendance accounts for 10 percent of their final mark. Students with excused absences face no penalties. Those with two or more unexcused absences lose marks.

The Absenteeism Problem in New Brunswick

Student attendance is a growing concern locally. Last school year, more than 28 percent of kindergarten to Grade 12 students in New Brunswick missed 10 percent or more of their class time. The numbers are even higher for older students. More than 35 percent of New Brunswick high school students missed 18 days or more of school.

To combat this issue, New Brunswick relies on supportive measures. Johnson points to the new provincial hot lunch program and the existing breakfast program. These initiatives aim to create a welcoming environment and encourage students to show up.

When a student misses too much school, educators focus on building a supportive relationship with the family. The goal is to find out what is happening and help get the student back into the classroom.

Experts Weigh In

Paul Bennett is an expert on classroom teaching and a senior fellow in education at the MacDonald Laurier Institute. He believes tying attendance to grades is an idea worth exploring.

“I am in favour of taking extraordinary measures in extraordinary times,” Bennett says. He stresses that students need to understand that attending school is a requirement and key to their success. While he expresses some unease about the arbitrary nature of the penalties, he supports the core concept of holding students accountable for missing class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will New Brunswick tie student grades to attendance this year?

No. The provincial government has no plans to implement this policy for the current school year.

What happens if a student has an excused absence in Ontario?

Students with excused absences do not lose marks. The policy only penalizes students with two or more unexcused absences.

How is New Brunswick currently handling chronic absenteeism?

The province uses supportive measures like hot lunch and breakfast programs to create a welcoming environment. Schools also work directly with families to address the root causes of a student’s absence.