Quick Answer: Ontario elementary students (Grades 1 to 8) receive three report cards per year under the Growing Success framework: a fall progress report between October 20 and November 20, 2026; a Term 1 provincial report card between January 20 and February 20, 2027; and a final Term 2 report card in June 2027. Secondary students in semestered schools receive two report cards per semester. Secondary students in non-semestered schools receive three report cards across the year. Exact dates are set by individual school boards, not the province. Starting with the June 2026 reporting period, the Ottawa-Carleton DSB reinstated paper-based report cards for all K-8 students, a change that may expand to other boards.
Key Highlights of Ontario Report Card Dates
- Ontario Ministry of Education (Growing Success framework) mandates three formal reporting periods for all elementary students in Grades 1 to 8
- The fall progress report window is October 20 to November 20, 2026 for all Ontario elementary boards
- The Term 1 elementary provincial report card must be issued between January 20 and February 20, 2027
- Secondary semestered school students receive 2 report cards per semester: one after approximately 6 weeks and a final at semester end
- Ottawa-Carleton DSB has reinstated paper-based report cards for K-8 students starting June 2026, following Ontario government direction
- Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the Ontario Ministry has indicated that final grades will include attendance and participation components under the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026
Ontario Report Card Dates 2026-27: Elementary Schools (Grades 1 to 8)
Ontario Ministry policy under Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools requires all publicly funded elementary schools to issue three formal report cards per year. The Ministry sets the reporting windows. Individual boards set exact dates within those windows.
| Report Card | Ministry Window | What It Contains |
| Fall Progress Report | October 20 to November 20, 2026 | Learning skills and work habits only; no letter grades; reports progress as ‘very well,’ ‘well,’ or ‘with difficulty’ |
| Term 1 Provincial Report Card | January 20 to February 20, 2027 | Letter grades (Grades 1-6) or percentage marks (Grades 7-8); curriculum expectations; learning skills; teacher comments |
| Term 2 Final Report Card | June 2027 (exact date set by board) | Full academic results for all subjects; final marks for the year; learning skills; teacher comments |
Note on the fall progress report: This is not a traditional report card. It does not include letter grades or percentage marks for academic subjects. It focuses entirely on how your child is progressing in the six learning skills and work habits (responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative, and self-regulation) and whether they are on track to meet expectations by the end of the term. For a detailed explanation of what each learning skill means, read our guide on learning skills on the Ontario report card.
Ontario Report Card Dates 2026-27 by Specific Board
Exact report card release dates within Ministry windows vary by board. Here are confirmed or typical dates for major boards based on 2026-27 PA Day schedules:
| Board | PA Day (Report Prep) | Notes on Reporting |
| OCDSB | Jan 29, 2027 (Term 1 elementary); June 4, 2027 (Term 2) | Paper-based K-8 report cards reinstated from June 2026 per OCDSB confirmed announcement |
| TDSB | Nov 20, 2026; June 4, 2027 | PA Days confirm report prep windows; exact release dates vary by school |
| WRDSB | Follows Ministry windows | Fall progress Oct 20-Nov 20; Term 1 Jan 20-Feb 20 |
| YRDSB | Follows Ministry windows | Both elementary and secondary follow Growing Success framework |
| UCDSB | Follows Ministry windows | Semester 1 ends Jan 29, 2027; report prep PA Day included |
Secondary School Report Cards in Ontario 2026-27
Secondary reporting is more complex than elementary because it depends on whether your school uses a semestered or non-semestered structure. Most Ontario secondary schools are semestered, meaning Semester 1 runs from September to late January and Semester 2 runs from February to June.
Semestered Secondary Schools
| Report | Approximate Timing | What It Shows |
| Semester 1 Mid-Semester Report | After first 5-6 weeks of Semester 1 (October 2026) | Interim marks only; not a formal graduation or OUAC record |
| Semester 1 Final Report | Late January 2027 (after exams) | Final marks for Semester 1 courses; counts toward OSSD and OUAC |
| Semester 2 Mid-Semester Report | After first 5-6 weeks of Semester 2 (March-April 2027) | Interim marks; early warning for students at risk |
| Semester 2 Final Report | June 2027 (after exams) | Final marks for Semester 2 courses; submitted to OUAC for conditional offers |
The June 2027 Semester 2 final report card is the most consequential document for Grade 12 students. These marks are what universities compare against conditional offer requirements. If your final marks fall below the required average or specific course grades, your university offer may be rescinded. For a full timeline of when Grade 12 marks must be submitted and what happens if they drop, see our guide on Grade 12 final marks deadline.
Non-Semestered Secondary Schools
Students in non-semestered secondary schools receive three report cards during the year: an interim report after approximately 6 weeks of instruction, a mid-year report in January or February, and a final report in June. The structure varies by board and school. Check your school’s calendar for specific dates.
What Changed in Ontario Report Cards for 2026-27
Attendance and Participation Included in Final Grades
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education page on student assessment, starting in the 2026-27 school year, final grades will include attendance and participation under the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026. Excused absences do not negatively affect marks, but persistent unexplained absence may now affect final grades more directly than in previous years. Check your board’s implementation of this new requirement.
Paper-Based Report Cards Reinstated (OCDSB and Others)
The Ottawa-Carleton DSB confirmed that paper-based report cards for K-8 students will be reinstated starting with the June 2026 reporting period. According to the OCDSB report cards page, this applies to all students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and will continue for future reporting periods including the November Progress Report, Term 1 Report, and Term 2 Report. Other boards may follow. Parents who currently receive report cards only digitally should check with their board whether paper copies will be available.
How to Talk With Your Child About Their Report Card
The fall progress report (October to November): Focus on learning skills, not marks. Ask your child which learning skill they are most proud of and which one they want to work on. The fall progress report is designed to open a conversation, not to alarm. If the report says your child is progressing ‘with difficulty’ in a learning skill, ask their teacher what that looks like in class and what you can do at home to support.
The Term 1 provincial report (January to February): Now you have actual academic marks. Compare these to your child’s own sense of how things are going. A significant gap between what a child thinks they are doing and what the report shows often points to either anxiety about asking for help or a misunderstanding of what is expected. This report is the moment to seek support if needed, not June.
The final report (June): For elementary students, this is a summary of the year. For Grade 12 students, these marks determine whether conditional university offers are met. If a student’s final marks fall below what their conditional offer requires, they must contact their university immediately. Our guide on what to do after accepting a university offer in Ontario explains the next steps.
| Need to upgrade a Grade 12 mark before university deadlines? USCA Academy offers credit upgrading on a flexible schedule. Contact us at +1 (905) 232-0411 or visit credit courses in Mississauga to start. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ontario Report Card Dates 2026
1. When is the Ontario fall progress report issued in 2026?
The fall progress report for all Ontario elementary students in Grades 1 to 8 must be issued between October 20 and November 20, 2026. Exact dates within that window are set by each individual school board. Contact your school if you have not received the report by late November 2026.
2. When are Ontario high school report cards issued in 2026-27?
For semestered secondary schools, mid-semester interim reports come after approximately 5 to 6 weeks of each semester. Semester 1 final report cards are typically issued in late January 2027, after the Semester 1 exam period (approximately January 22 to January 28 for OCDSB). Semester 2 final report cards are issued in June 2027 after Semester 2 exams. Exact dates vary by board and school.
3. Are Ontario report cards still sent home on paper?
It depends on your board. The OCDSB reinstated paper-based K-8 report cards starting with the June 2026 reporting period and confirmed this will continue for all future reporting periods. Other boards may still use digital-only delivery. The Ontario government has signaled support for paper-based reporting. Check with your specific school board or school for current practice. If you need copies of past report cards for enrollment purposes at private schools or for international school applications, contact your school’s main office directly.
4. Can a student improve their Grade 12 mark after the report card is issued?
In some cases, yes. Students who received a mark that does not reflect their true performance may have grounds to appeal through their school’s established process. More commonly, students who receive a Grade 12 Semester 1 final report card in January 2027 and want to improve their mark can do so by taking the course again through credit upgrading at a private or continuing education school.
USCA Academy accepts students seeking to upgrade Grade 12 marks on a flexible timeline outside the public semester structure. The upgraded mark can be submitted to OUAC before the final June deadline.
