Upper Grand students maintain high levels of success on Secondary School Literacy Test
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 16, 2010
GUELPH, Ontario — Eighty-five percent of the grade 10 students who were eligible to write the EQAO’s Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) for the first time were successful this year, and many who did not succeed on their first try retook the test and passed, showing that the improvement plans and data tracking by the Upper Grand board’s schools are paying off in improved student learning.
“We’ve seen that by targeting those students who did not pass the test the first time around we can help them improve their literacy levels so they can earn that important high school credit,” said Chair of the Board, Bob Borden.
“We’re very pleased that our achievement levels are remaining high for first timers and that more students are being successful as a result of their hard work and efforts and those of their teachers.”
The provincial pass rate this year for those eligible to write the test for the first time is 84%.
The results of the annual testing provide a wealth of data schools use to develop programs for struggling students. Those taking locally developed courses, many of whom also have special needs, will be a focus for the coming year.
The range of supports at schools includes:
- Student achievement goals in literacy featured in school improvement plans
- Student-centered assessments to engage students in setting learning goals
- Offering the Ontario Secondary School Literacy course for unsuccessful students
- PD for teachers that provides training and support for meeting student needs though differentiated instruction and assessment practices
- Using new software and other technologies to engage and assist students, specifically those with special needs.
Results for the individual schools are included in the accompanying charts. The charts, and the following results, are based on the students who actually wrote the test.
Girls traditionally outperform boys with 88% of Upper Grand girls successful the first time they took the test compared with 83% of the boys.
English Language Learners (ELL) achieved a 71% pass rate, with students with special needs at 48% in this year’s testing.
Students enrolled in the academic program once again earned a 98% success rate compared with 95% province-wide.
Students in the applied level achieved a 71% success rate while only 60% passed across the province.
There will be an effort to assist those in the locally developed courses where there is only a 14% rate of success. Students with special needs will also be a focus for the coming year in an effort to help them improve their pass rate.
| First time eligible students: | |
| Province 2008-09 85% | Upper Grand 2008-09 86% |
| Province 2009-10 84% | Upper Grand 2009-10 85% |
| Previously eligible students: | |
| Province 2008-09 54% | Upper Grand 55% |
| Province 2009-10 51% | Upper Grand 56% |
For more information, please see the board’s website: www.ugdsb.ca/eqao/eqao.htm and the EQAO website: www.eqao.com.
For more information: Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer, 519-822-4420, ext. 725
[email protected]
Categories: Media Releases