| 20 September 2007, Belleville, ON—Today the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) released the results of the Primary and Junior Reading, Writing and Mathematics tests and the Grade 9 Mathematics test written during the 2006-2007 school year.
Provincial results flat-lined. In HPEDSB, Grade 3 and 6 results declined from 1 to 7 percent, with Grade 3 Reading showing the biggest decrease. Even so, almost one-third of elementary schools achieved a dramatic increase in Grade 3 Reading. What is puzzling is that a large proportion of schools also decreased dramatically. The Grade 9 Mathematics results remain above the provincial average. There was a slight drop at the applied level while results were maintained at the academic level.
"These results are puzzling,” remarks Carl Pitman, Chair of the Board. “Over the past two years we have put specific resources in place to support instruction and learning in literacy and numeracy—things like intensive training for teachers in numeracy and literacy, and focused resources to support student learning. Further data analysis is required to figure out why there are such extreme fluctuations at the elementary level. We will stay the course by continuing to focus on literacy in all classrooms.”
Strategies in place for the 2007-2008 school year
For the 2007-2008 school year HPEDSB elementary schools will have the following common focus areas:
- Shared reading in all classrooms
- 100 minutes of daily literacy instruction
- Literacy Partners, who are expert teachers in teaching literacy
- Analysis of test data to guide school and classroom instructional practices
- Creation of rooms containing literacy resources
- Events for parents and community members that support the school focus on improving literacy
Secondary schools continue to guide students to select appropriate program pathways. Strategies currently in place include the following:
- Processes to ensure successful transition from elementary to secondary school
- Student Success teams at each secondary school. These teams exist to increase the percentage of students who graduate by teams providing a diverse range of programs and supports which address a variety of learning needs and preferences.
2007 EQAO Results for Reading, Writing and Math |
| |
HPEDSB |
Province |
|
|
HPEDSB |
Province |
Primary
(Grade 3) |
Reading |
50 |
62 |
|
Grade 9 - Applied |
Math |
48 |
35 |
| Writing |
49 |
64 |
|
| Math |
57 |
69 |
|
Grade 9 - Academic |
Math |
75 |
71 |
Junior
(Grade 6) |
Reading |
56 |
64 |
|
|
| Writing |
49 |
61 |
|
| Math |
48 |
59 |
|
- 30 -
For more information, contact: Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, (613) 966-1170 or
1 800 267-4350, extension 2354
|