September 8th, 2026

Starting September 2026, the Ministry of Education has introduced new requirements for how final marks are determined in Grade 9 to 12. These changes apply to all publicly funded school boards in Ontario, including the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).

Changes for Grade 9 to 12 Students

Grade 9 to 12 students will continue to demonstrate their learning throughout the semester. The changes mean that final grades will now include:

  • Classroom learning completed throughout each course
  • Attendance and participation
  • A final evaluation

Reporting Excused Absences

The updates from the Ministry of Education outline specific requirements for parents, families and caregivers when reporting an excused absence. Excused absences will not impact a Grade 9 to 12 student’s attendance mark.

How to Report an Excused Absence

The parent or guardian of the student, or the student if they are an adult, must submit a request in writing requesting that the student be excused for a specified time frame. This could include:

  • Illness
  • A medical appointment
  • Vacation or family obligation
  • Holy/Cultural day
  • Sporting engagement

Emailed absence notifications should be sent to the attendance email for each school, which can be found in the footer of their website.

The written notification must include the:

  • Student’s name
  • Student’s date of birth
  • Date(s) of the absence
  • Time or period the student will be absent

Students remain responsible for completing any missed learning or assessments.

Telephone calls or voicemail messages alone do not meet the Ministry’s requirements for recording an excused absence.

Final Evaluations

Most Grade 9 to 12 students will complete a final examination at the end of each course. Some courses will also include a culminating task, while others may use a culminating task instead of a final examination.

Final Evaluation Days

Most Grade 9 to 12 students will write one or more final examinations during the scheduled examination period at the end of each semester.

Parents, families and caregivers are encouraged to avoid scheduling vacations, appointments, or other activities during the examination period whenever possible, so students can participate in their scheduled final evaluations.

If a student is unable to attend because of illness, injury, or another unavoidable circumstance, families should notify the school as soon as possible.

Questions?

Parents, families and caregivers of students in Grade 9 to 12 will receive additional information from their child’s school about:

  • Final evaluations
  • Examination schedules
  • Course expectations

If you have any additional questions, please contact your child’s school.