Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) Information for Grade 4 and 7 Families
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) is an annual learning assessment of literacy and numeracy for students in Grades 4 and 7. The FSA is based on BC curriculum and is designed in collaboration with teachers, educational experts, and the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
This year, the FSA will be administered October 1 to November 8, 2024. This is not an assessment that requires students to prepare in advance. Students answer interactive online questions and complete written work in a booklet in class which is then sent home with the student’s assessment results. FSA results are assessed using the provincial proficiency scale and assess how students think, communicate, and reflect—and does not just evaluate the facts they know.
As part of a series of provincial assessments that continue into high school (see image above), the purpose of the FSA is to measure the skills students have learned over the past several years. The FSA does not provide a complete picture of your child’s ability, nor does it count towards their marks. Individual student performance is determined through ongoing assessment by educators and communication with parents. The information provided by the assessment is used by the province, school districts, and schools to inform plans that improve student learning.
All children in Grades 4 and 7 are expected to write the FSA, with the following exceptions:
- Students whose personalized learning standards significantly differ from provincial curricular standards and are documented in their Individual Education Plan (IEP).
- English Language Learners who have not reached a level of proficiency sufficient to provide meaningful responses to the reading or writing or numeracy sections of the FSA.
- Students experiencing extenuating circumstances (e.g. a family emergency or lengthy illness).
Your child’s school principal will determine if a student may be excused from participating in the FSA. Parents or caregivers will be notified by their principal prior to the administration date if your child meets the Ministry’s criteria for exemption.
We encourage you to discuss the FSAs with your children and help them understand the purpose of the assessments. Your support can help ease nerves and assist your child in feeling more confident leading up to and during the assessments.
If you have questions or concerns about the FSA, please contact your principal for further information or clarification.
Sincerely,
Deb Whitten
Superintendent of Schools
Greater Victoria School District No. 61
Communications
community@sd61.bc.ca