FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2003

Public school students improve EQAO assessment results
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) is pleased to announce that our Grade 3 and 6 students have shown substantial improvement in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Results from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments that took place in May, 2003 demonstrate a marked increase in students’ overall performance.

“Continuously improving students’ achievement has been and remains a major priority for our Board,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board. “The results of these assessments clearly indicate that that our students are reaping the benefits of the diligent and co-ordinated efforts of our principals, teachers, educational assistants, parents and volunteers.”

Grade 3 results
In Reading, Writing and Mathematics, our Grade 3 EQAO scores improved over last year:

• Performance in Grade 3 Reading is up by seven percent over last year, with 54 percent of our students who participated in the assessment achieving at or above the provincial standard, as compared to 53 percent provincially.
• Performance in Grade 3 Writing is up by eight percent over last year, with 55 percent of our students who participated in the assessment achieving at or above the provincial standard, as compared to 59 percent provincially.
• Performance in Grade 3 Mathematics is up by six percent over last year, with 56 percent of our students who participated in the assessment achieving at or above the provincial standard, as compared to 60 percent provincially.

Overall, from 1998 to 2003, our Grade 3 achievement in all three subject areas has varied, with a clear gain evidenced in the past year.

Grade 6 results
In Reading, Writing and Mathematics, our Grade 6 EQAO scores improved over last year:

• Performance in Grade 6 Reading is up by three percent over last year, with 57 percent of our students who participated in the assessment achieving at or above the provincial standard, as compared to 58 percent provincially.
• Performance in Grade 6 Writing is up by three percent over last year, with 49 percent of our students who participated in the assessment achieving at or above the provincial standard, as compared to 57 percent provincially.
• Performance in Grade 6 Mathematics is up by one percent over last year, with 52 percent of our students who participated in the assessment achieving at or above the provincial standard, as compared to 56 percent provincially.

Overall, since 1999, our Grade 6 achievement in the three subject areas has shown steady improvement.

Our Board’s overall goal is to promote and support, through focused instruction, the highest standard of achievement possible by all students in meeting the expectations of the Ontario curriculum. We believe our students’ improving EQAO results reflect this goal.

Over the past several years, our Board has implemented targeted programs to improve student achievement. In support of our overall goal, the following are some of the initiatives currently underway:

• Early Reading Strategy and Early Math Strategy – are intended to help children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 improve their Reading, Writing and Math skills
• Early Reading Intervention – through increased staffing, provides specific instruction and support for many students in the early primary grades
• Developmental Reading Assessment – is a diagnostic tool which enables teachers to identify students’ reading and comprehension levels, and assists teachers in developing teaching strategies
• Special Education identification and support – provides individualized programs for students with special needs
• Board-wide literacy initiative – focuses on developing Reading and Writing skills in all subject for all students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 54 schools serving 18,900 students and employing 1,083 teachers. The Board covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south, and Quinte West to the west.

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For information contact :
• Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board, (613) 921-3203
• Randy Brown, Superintendent of Educational Services, 966-1170 x2203