FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2004
Secondary students improve results on the OSSLT
A report released by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)
indicates that secondary school students in the Hastings and Prince Edward District
School Board (HPEDSB) are achieving above the provincial average on the Ontario
Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The test evaluates the Reading and Writing
skills of Grade 9 students and is a requirement for graduation from secondary
school.
Overall, HPEDSB students achieved improved results this year over last, and continue to perform above the provincial average. Of the first-time eligible students who wrote the test in October 2003, 82 percent were successful on the Reading and Writing portions. An additional 5 percent were successful on Reading only, 7 percent were successful on Writing only, and 5 percent were not successful on either portion. Provincially, 77 percent were successful on both portions, 5 percent were successful on Reading only, 9 percent were successful on Writing only, and 9 percent were not successful on either portion.
“We have been working to enhance literacy in all subject areas this year, and have put an emphasis on reading and writing in Geography and Science courses,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board. “We are extremely proud of our students who wrote the test. This is another example of how our teams of dedicated staff, students, parents and guardians continuously strive for improvement.”
EQAO also reports on the total number of students who were eligible to write the test, including students who were absent or recommended for deferral. In HPEDSB, 71 percent were successful on both Reading and Writing, compared to the provincial average of 70 percent. The proportion of previously eligible HPEDSB students who successfully completed the test was 72 percent compared to the provincial average of 50 percent.
The test is designed to measure students’ Reading and Writing skills based on language expectations common to all subjects in the provincial curriculum up to the end of Grade 9. Students are required to successfully complete both the Reading and Writing portions in order to receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students who are not successful on the test have opportunities to improve their performance by rewriting it in subsequent years, or by completing the Grade 12 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).
All students in HPEDSB who need the OSSLC to graduate are currently taking the class. The course can replace the OSSLT as the diploma requirement; however, students must have had two opportunities to write the test before they can qualify for the class.
Reporting
of results to students
Each student who took the test received an Individual Student Report. Students
who successfully completed both the Reading and Writing portions received a
report which indicates simply that they were successful. Students who did not
successfully complete either the Reading or the Writing portions, or both, received
information about which skills they need to work on.
Test results
shouldn’t be used as comparisons
It is important to remember that the test is not designed to produce data on
which to base comparisons of school performances. There is not sufficient contextual
information to qualify and make equitable any comparisons of achievement data.
It is both the Board’s and EQAO’s position that the use of test
results to rank schools is counterproductive and misleading. Rather, the focus
for all assessment data—provincial, system, school and classroom—must
be on improved learning and instruction.
Literacy
initiatives
At HPEDSB, a number of literacy initiatives have contributed to the successful
results. Teachers identify and share effective instructional and assessment
practices in order to improve literacy skills across the curriculum. As well,
many students participated in provincially-funded Literacy Camps last August
to practice and enhance their skills
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 46 elementary and eight secondary schools serving 18,700 students, employing 1,067 teachers and 775 support staff. 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.
For more information, contact: