SCHOOL BOARD PROGRESS REPORTS
School Board Progress Reports
Frequently Asked Questions
- Grade 6 EQAO Reading Assessment
- Credit Accumulation by the End of Grade 10
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
- Primary Class Size Reduction
What is the purpose of the School Board Progress Reports?
The government is committed to building confidence in the publicly funded education system through transparency and accountability.
With the support of the Ministry of Education, Ontario's school boards are making progress towards helping all students succeed. That positive momentum is captured board by board in the School Board Progress Reports.
Why did the government select these indicators to show district school board progress?
The ministry selected these indicators because they show progress made by each board to reach every student with important government initiatives. These priorities include raising student achievement, reducing primary class sizes, and ensuring boards are financially responsible.
More indicators will be developed and published in the next few years with the advice of an advisory committee. This group will be composed of members of the general public and representatives from the education sector.
Where did the ministry get this information?
Information included in the School Board Progress Reports came from two sources. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) administers and calculates the results for the Grade 6 reading assessment and the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.
As well, each school board reports annually to the ministry on its progress in primary class size reduction, Grade 10 credit accumulation and financial status.
How often will the Progress Reports be updated?
The ministry updates School Board Progress Reports on a regular basis when new indicator data has been collected and analyzed.
The government has set an 85 per cent graduation target for 2010-11. Why isn't information being provided to show how each board is progressing towards that target?
The government is fully committed to raising the graduation rate to 85 per cent provincewide by 2010-11. At this time, the specific board-by-board data on graduation rates is not available. The ministry is currently working with boards to gather this data and this may become an additional indicator in the coming years.
Why is the ministry ranking school boards?
The School Board Progress Reports do not rank school boards. These reports provide only a general snapshot of each board's progress in key areas. These results are influenced by each board's distinct advantages and challenges, such as geographic size, innovative programming, population density and program needs for students taking English-as-a-second-language courses.
The ministry and each individual board are accountable to the public for increasing student achievement. The Progress Reports help the public see how and where boards are making progress on important education initiatives. This information can be used in open and full discussions about government, board and stakeholder priorities.
Why does the government depend on EQAO to measure and publish student progress in Grade 6 and 10?
EQAO is an arm's-length agency of the provincial government and provides parents, teachers and the public with accurate and reliable information about student achievement. It was established in 1995 on the recommendation of the Ontario Royal Commission on Learning. The commission consulted extensively with educators, parents, students and the general public, and concluded that provincewide assessments would help respond to public demand for greater quality and accountability in the publicly funded education system.
Grade 6 EQAO Reading Assessment
Why is reading so important for Grade 6 students?
We strongly believe that every student in the province should be able to read at a high level by the age of 12. This age is a critical juncture — a tipping point — in a child's life. If students by that age become convinced they cannot succeed at school, dropping out becomes a more attractive option. Having every child reach a high level of literacy by age 12 is both an economic and social building block.
Why is the government only providing information on Grade 6 reading, and ignoring writing and math? Doesn't the government have a 75 per cent target for 12-year-olds on student achievement in reading, writing and math?
The government has a clear target that 75 per cent of 12-year-olds will meet the provincial standard on EQAO reading, writing and math assessments by 2008-09. The ministry decided to provide information only on reading at this time to make it easier for the boards and general public to see progress.
Reading is a key area of learning, because effective reading skills are strongly linked to a student's achievement in writing and math.
Credit Accumulation by the End of Grade 10
What impact does failing a course in Grade 9 or 10 have on a student?
Research shows that the successful completion of 16 credits by the end of Grade 10 keeps students on track to graduate with their peers.
New supports and programs have been introduced to help more students who do not complete 16 credits by the end of Grade 10. These include a Grade 8-9 transition plan, Lighthouse projects with credit recovery programs and student success leaders and teachers.
Why has information not been provided on each board's progress in Grade 10 credit accumulation over the past several years?
The collection of data only began in 2004-05, therefore there is currently no earlier data to compare with current numbers. It is expected that in the coming years, a new indicator showing progress in Grade 10 credit accumulation will be added to the School Board Progress Reports.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
Why is the OSSLT an important measurement of student achievement?
Strong literacy skills by Grade 10 are essential for student success and a good indicator of on-time graduation. For all postsecondary destinations, students need a strong core of literacy skills to enable them to receive and comprehend ideas and information, to inquire further into areas of interest and study, and to express themselves clearly.
What happens to students who do not pass the OSSLT?
Students who do not pass the OSSLT on the first opportunity are provided with additional support and guidance to help boost their level of literacy to the provincial standard.
Students may write the OSSLT more than once. School principals also have the discretion to allow a student who has failed the OSSLT to enrol in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) if the principal decides that it is in the best educational interests of a student. Students who pass this literacy course also meet the graduation literacy requirement.
Has the standard for passing the OSSLT changed?
The provincial standard for passing the OSSLT has not changed since it was established in 1999.
Primary Class Size Reduction
How will reducing class size improve the quality of education?
Small class sizes are crucial to ensuring that students get the individual attention they need to master the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy.
Studies point increasingly to higher performance, greater parental satisfaction and stronger teacher effectiveness in smaller classes. One study concluded that primary school students in small classes performed significantly better in reading and mathematics, with the most pronounced gains by minority and disadvantaged students.
How do you expect to meet your target in 2007-08?
Ontario is on track to reduce primary class size to 20 students or fewer by 2007-08. The primary class size indicator currently displays data from the 2006-07 school year. It shows that twice as many primary classes now have 20 or fewer students compared to 2003.
In 2006-07, the number of classes with 25 students or more has dropped from 25 to three per cent, while the number of classes with 20 or fewer has risen from 31 to 64 per cent.
