New Zealand schools to issue two standardised reports to parents each year

New Zealand schools and kura (Māori-language schools) will be required to provide parents and families with two reports each year under newly finalised education regulations aimed at making student progress reporting clearer and more consistent.

The changes have been confirmed through the Education (School Boards) Amendment Regulations 2026 and will take effect from January 1, 2027, although some kura boards will have an additional year to prepare, with the requirements applying to them from January 1, 2028. Under the revised rules, reports must give parents a clearer picture of how their children are progressing against curriculum expectations and where they need further support. Each report will include students’ assessment results, progress against strands in English and mathematics, and the corresponding learning areas in Te Reo Rangatira and pāngarau.

Schools must also report on students’ reading and writing development, attendance, except in the case of distance schools, and their next learning steps. Reports will additionally include relevant common progress descriptors and explain what support schools are providing to students whose performance is significantly below curriculum expectations. The changes are intended to address long-standing differences in how schools communicate academic progress to families. Reporting practices currently vary considerably between schools, making it difficult for some parents to understand how their children are performing and developing over time.

The new requirements seek to establish a more consistent approach, helping parents track progress, identify learning gaps and better understand the support their children may need. The Education Ministry said the changes align with reporting guidance released earlier this year, which many schools have already adopted. Updated guidance and reporting templates are also being prepared to help schools and kura implement the requirements. Schools will retain flexibility in how they present the information and may include additional details beyond the mandatory requirements.

The revised framework is designed to ensure parents receive more meaningful and consistent updates on their children's learning, rather than relying on differing reporting formats across schools.