More control over grading and feedback is here! Rubric scores and comments can be released separately or together to give you full control over the timing of both feedback and grades. Try it out in Beta now or in Production.
Why we built this
Feedback is one of the most powerful tools for student learning, but timing matters just as much as content. For many years, educators and administrators across the Canvas Community, user groups, and institutions have shared that existing feedback release options can feel too rigid for real-world grading workflows. We’ve consistently heard requests for greater flexibility; the ability to schedule when grades are posted, to hold feedback until after a due date, or to release comments separately from scores. These ideas have surfaced time and again in community discussions and product discovery sessions, all pointing to the same goal: empowering instructors to decide how and when students see feedback so it best supports their learning.
Scheduled Feedback Release was built directly in response to that feedback. Now, you can plan exactly when students see their rubric scores and comments, whether that’s to start a dialogue before grades are finalized, or to hold feedback until a review session or moderation is complete. This update makes Canvas more flexible, aligning grading and communication timelines with your pedagogical intent.
How it works
With this update, graders can schedule when feedback becomes visible to students directly from the Gradebook’s existing Grade Posting Policy section.
Simply go to an assignment’s grade posting policy, select ‘Manually’, and schedule your release!
The system will automatically release feedback when your chosen time arrives, so you can set it once and focus on other priorities. This will give you greater flexibility and better control over your grading schedule.
You can choose to release:
- Rubric Scores (final point tally and criteria scores)
- Comments (rubric and submission comments)
These can be released together or separately. For example, you can share comments first, then release scores later.
More Details
- Manual override: Instructors can still manually post grades early if needed.
- Copied courses: Scheduled feedback settings can copy over with your course, but you’ll be reminded to adjust them, just like due dates.
- API support: Feedback scheduling will also be available via API for programmatic control.
How It Helps
- Coordinate your grading process: Schedule release dates to match department review cycles or feedback sessions.
- Support fair assessment: Hold rubric scores until all submissions are graded to ensure consistency.
- Enhance student experience: Deliver feedback at the most impactful time for learning.
Ready to Try It?
Scheduled Feedback Release is currently available to try out in Production
We can’t wait to see how you use this new flexibility to enhance your feedback workflows!
💬 Have feedback or questions? Comment below or send me a DM here in the community.
