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The grading scales in Canada are more lenient. Does this mean that it's easier for people to pass in Canada?
Canada's grading scale goes something like this, or at least in Ontario, or with minor variations:
A 80-100
B 70-79
C 60-69
D 50-59
F 0-49
While the following is the standard in the US (a few districts may have an even stricter scale):
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59
^ Do Canadians have it easy, based on this? Are there fewer people there getting D's and F's?
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Also, Canada's grade level cutoffs are more lenient than most US states. Most states have birthday deadlines in September or October. In Canada, that deadline is in December in most places, and Alberta has cutoffs in late February/early March (as in, literally, a child can start kinder in September at age 4, but turn 5 before March of that school term, by then, the year is almost over).
Ontario places students in grade levels according to birth year, even if one missed junior kindergarten or senior kindergarten, if the parent enrolled the child late, they are still placed within their birth year group and are rarely allowed to be redshirted.
Canada still allows fall babies to start school, even though most states have rolled up their deadlines in recent years.
Basically, Canada uses the same K-12 configuration the US does, but is more lenient about it, especially with the grading scales.
I know for most professional schools, dental school, medical school, etc., they refigure Canadian GPA's to match the standard US system so you need a much higher Canadian GPA to get into a US school, along with a higher than average DAT or MCAT, so yes, it's easier in Canada.
Just as colleges recalculate HS students transcripts here, they do the same for any international student, whether they're in Hong Kong or Montreal. College is inexpensive in Canada compared to the US. It wouldn't make a lot of sense to go to college in the US unless you are extremely smart and/or wealthy. Tuition fees by university | Universities Canada
The grading scales in Canada are more lenient. Does this mean that it's easier for people to pass in Canada?
Canada's grading scale goes something like this, or at least in Ontario, or with minor variations:
A 80-100
B 70-79
C 60-69
D 50-59
F 0-49
While the following is the standard in the US (a few districts may have an even stricter scale):
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59
^ Do Canadians have it easy, based on this? Are there fewer people there getting D's and F's?
------------------------------------------------
Also, Canada's grade level cutoffs are more lenient than most US states. Most states have birthday deadlines in September or October. In Canada, that deadline is in December in most places, and Alberta has cutoffs in late February/early March (as in, literally, a child can start kinder in September at age 4, but turn 5 before March of that school term, by then, the year is almost over).
Ontario places students in grade levels according to birth year, even if one missed junior kindergarten or senior kindergarten, if the parent enrolled the child late, they are still placed within their birth year group and are rarely allowed to be redshirted.
Canada still allows fall babies to start school, even though most states have rolled up their deadlines in recent years.
Basically, Canada uses the same K-12 configuration the US does, but is more lenient about it, especially with the grading scales.
FYI the cut-off date for kindergarten (maternelle) in Quebec is October 1. Ontario is December 31 I think.
Okay, understand that in Canada, education is regulated provincially, not federally, like the US. Each province has standards, and we have no concept of Common Core/federal standards.
In BC, it's 86-100. In Alberta, it is 90-100, and so on. We do not have teacher "fast track", Praxis, or any of that. You have a five year degree in education, and that's it - you don't step in a class without one. We do not have this nonsense of no-degree subs, or teachers with unrelated BAs leading a class. Our teachers are, overall across the board, much better qualified.
Johnny in Conneticut might get a highly qualified educator and Jimmy in Arkansas get a teacher without a degree and bare minimal training. That doesn't happen here. Johnny in the Yukon and Jimmy in Saskatchewan get equally qualified BEd teachers with extensive training and $60-100k+ salaries. I work as a classroom literacy assistant, with an education degree, and make $20-30/hour range.
The grade numbers you see, aren't a reflection of standards IMO.
Okay, understand that in Canada, education is regulated provincially, not federally, like the US. Each province has standards, and we have no concept of Common Core/federal standards.
In BC, it's 86-100. In Alberta, it is 90-100, and so on. We do not have teacher "fast track", Praxis, or any of that. You have a five year degree in education, and that's it - you don't step in a class without one. We do not have this nonsense of no-degree subs, or teachers with unrelated BAs leading a class. Our teachers are, overall across the board, much better qualified.
Johnny in Conneticut might get a highly qualified educator and Jimmy in Arkansas get a teacher without a degree and bare minimal training. That doesn't happen here. Johnny in the Yukon and Jimmy in Saskatchewan get equally qualified BEd teachers with extensive training and $60-100k+ salaries. I work as a classroom literacy assistant, with an education degree, and make $20-30/hour range.
The grade numbers you see, aren't a reflection of standards IMO.
All states require bachelors degrees for teachers, so no, Johnny in Arkansas will not have a teacher without a degree. For alternative programs, applicants have a bachelors degree, just not in education.
Teachers in Arkansas must have at least a bachelor’s degree to pursue traditional education licensure. Such degrees may be obtained from traditional schools or online teaching schools in Arkansas, so long as the schools have the proper educational accreditation. Alternative routes to licensure involve the completion of educator preparation programs, which give those interested in receiving an Arkansas teaching license the necessary educational background for teaching in Arkansas. Those enrolling in these programs usually have bachelor’s degrees in other fields but are interested in transitioning to teaching positions.
As far as I know every single US state requires a bachelor's for full time teachers. Substitute teaching is a different story, but even there most states want college grads.
Even Mississippi only licenses holders of college degrees
Quote:
The Office of Educator Licensure of the Mississippi Department of Education (601-359-3483) will license qualified candidates who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and who have graduated from a state-approved teacher preparation program.
Lousiana too
Quote:
The Louisiana Department of Education Division of Certification, Preparation & Recruitment (877-453-2721) expects its teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree, at minimum, awarded by an approved teacher preparation program in the state.
@aliss2 - Actually in the U.S. it's (at least in theory) regulated at the state level. Now the Obama administration is of course pushing "Common Core" and conditions money based on compliance with federal laws, but education is NOT one of the powers delegated to the national government.
All states require bachelors degrees for teachers, so no, Johnny in Arkansas will not have a teacher without a degree. For alternative programs, applicants have a bachelors degree, just not in education.
As far as I know every single US state requires a bachelor's for full time teachers. Substitute teaching is a different story, but even there most states want college grads.
Even Mississippi only licenses holders of college degrees
Lousiana too
I guess what I find confusing is the concept of a sub being a sub, and a teacher being a teacher. How on earth can anyone be allowed to lead a class (sub or not) without being a licensed teacher/having a degree? It seems bizarre. I guess that is a cultural difference.
@aliss2 - Actually in the U.S. it's (at least in theory) regulated at the state level. Now the Obama administration is of course pushing "Common Core" and conditions money based on compliance with federal laws, but education is NOT one of the powers delegated to the national government.
Thank you for clarifying.
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