HALTON CATHOLIC BOARD INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL EQAO TEST RESULTS:
The Halton Catholic District School Board released today its school-by-school results of the province-wide testing of Grade 3 and Grade 6 students conducted last Spring in reading, writing and mathematics by the EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office).
The school-by-school data scores are listed alphabetically in the attached charts, with the results recorded for each subject area, using both methods reported by EQAO. "They are not ranked by achievement levels," explains Diane Rabenda, Superintendent of Education responsible for curriculum at the Board, "since such school comparisons of this data may be "human nature" but are actually inappropriate and usually misleading. These test results are of value because they assist us in evaluating where we are and where we want to be."
Once again the Board's Grade 3 students have continued to achieve above the provincial results, as did the Grade 6 students, who wrote the test for the first time last Spring.
The students ranked among the highest scores in the province in this round of the standardized testing. In language arts, the Grade 3 students demonstrated a 3% increase in level 3 and 4 achievement over the 1998 results. In mathematics, the Grade 3 students achieved considerable improvement - demonstrating an increase of over 20% - in level 3 and 4 achievement over last year. The results from this year's Grade 6 assessment will be used as a benchmark for staff to assess and evaluate strategies for student improvement.
These results provide a snapshot of a particular period in time, and that is all. This data should be treated simply as one indication among many, which can be considered as part of the overall assessment of a student's performance in conjunction with the teacher's evaluation, ongoing assignments and tests.
"Although, these external assessment results provide valuable data, it is very important not to overinterpret the EQAO school-by-school test results, as variances do exist among schools across the Board", cautions Diane Rabenda, Superintendent of Education. "Such school comparisons are not appropriate since factors such as the school's population that participated, exemptions, etc. affect a school's results. There is merit, however, in interpreting and assessing the school-by-school results over a long period of time. School A should compare itself over time and not necessarily compare itself to school B. Individual school communities should commend themselves and share their exemplary or best practices with others, while looking to introduce changes that will improve achievement in areas specific to that school."
Each school will develop action plans based on this year's assessment data, in consultation with their school community, to identify appropriate initiatives which will address and strengthen the specific learning needs of the school.
The results definitely validate the ongoing commitment of all of the Board's staff who strive to help all students develop to their fullest potential in fulfilling our mission of Catholic Education.
It would appear that the Board's recent initiatives in purchasing new language and mathematics textbooks for each student, as appropriate, program materials, including relevant software, and teacher resources to address those areas which needed further development, combined with individual school action plans have positively influenced the results reported during this recent round of assessment. In addition, effective September, 1999, the Board appointed a mathematics consultant, who has a special focus on assessment with respect to EQAO testing to assist teachers in meeting the needs of children."
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Diane Rabenda
Superintendent of Education
Halton Catholic District School Board
(905) 632-6300, ext. 123
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