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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10a Education Report 4 18 Mar 20020/7 OTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD REPORT NO. 4, EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO: Board of Education DATE: 18 March 2002 A meeting of the Education Committee was held this evening in the Trustees' Committee Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, commencing at 7:40 p.m. with Trustee Margaret Lange in the Chair, and the following in attendance: MEMBERS: Trustees Lynn Graham, Jim Libbey; and Joan Spice OTHERS: Trustee Sheryl MacDonald NON - VOTING REPRESENTATIVES: Betty Tait, OCASC; Lisa Falls, OCETF; Tony Pearson, OSSTF; and, Lamar Mason, Nancy Myers, SEAC STAFF: Dan Mason, Superintendent, Educational Programs and Services; Nancy MacLeod, Superintendent of Schools; Marjorie Clegg, Coordinator, Quality Assurance; Margaret Dempsey, Principal, Staff Development; Ron Gaudreau, Centrally Assigned Position - Accountability, Math; Bob Powell, Principal, Program - Elementary; Neill Wyatt, Principal, Colonel By H.S.; Peter Zion, Principal, Program - Secondary; and Kim Young, Committee Coordinator. ALSO PRESENT: Student Trustee Emma Cohen Note: Trustee Graham assumed the Chair when Trustee Lange wished to participate in the discussion. 1. Approval of Agenda On a motion by Trustee Graham, the agenda was approved as presented. 2. Public Ouestion Period There were no questions from the public. Receipt of Special Education Advisory Committee Report, 6 March 2002 (Motion by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald) THAT Report No.4, from the Special Education Advisory Committee, dated 6 March 2002, be received. The report included recommendations regarding the collection and review of Special Education Tribunal decisions by the Board on a regular basis, and the development by SEAC and staff, of an information sheet outlining parents' right of appeal of IPRC decisions, to be attached to notices to parents of IPRC meetings. 4. Criteria for Potential Sites for a West -End International Baccalaureate (IB) School Your Committee had before it for consideration report No. 02 -062 seeking approval for the criteria for the establishment of an International Baccalaureate (IB) program in the western jurisdiction of the OCDSB. The report included information about the International Baccalaureate Organization's authorization process, including the application, affiliation, and participation phases, as well as a Education Committee 1 18 March 2002 VA ON compilation of issues that need to be taken into consideration by the Board and schools with respect to the establishment of a second IB program in the Board. Superintendent Mason provided an overview of the report, noting that there appears to be a strong interest in a second site to offer the IB program, particularly in the western part of the Board. Program staff worked with Planning staff to identify five criteria for the establishment of the program During a brief discussion of the financial considerations related to the IB program, Superintendent Mason noted that the staffing of the IB program would be accommodated within the existing collective agreements. He noted that there is a period of two years between the application process and the actual implementation of the program, so any other related costs would have to be dealt with at a later time. Superintendent Mason noted that schools that were interested in establishing the program would likely have to engage in fundraising to help support the program Trustee Graham moved: A. THAT the Education Committee approve the following criteria, for potential site(s) for an International Baccalaureate (IB) program: i) Schools in the Board's jurisdiction where there is sufficient demand; ii) Schools are to be accessible to OC Transpo; iii) Schools have available space to accommodate additional students; iv) School Councils, teaching staff and students support the application; v) The potential 113 program(s) can be accommodated within the existing staffing agreements and within the existing facilities. B. THAT a letter be sent to the secondary school principals informing them of the IB work plan and of an information session for the principals and school council chairs of schools which meet the criteria. In introducing the motion, Trustee Graham noted the importance of encouraging schools in other parts of the Board, particularly the southern and central areas, to consider the establishment of IB programs. Trustee Sheryl MacDonald expressed support for the motion, as long as the establishment of other IB programs does not impact negatively on the viability of the IB program at Colonel By High School. An amendment by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald to add the following as the sixth criterion, was accepted as friendly: vi) The establishment of the program(s) does not impact negatively on the viability of the existing IB program at Colonel By High School. In response to a query, Principal Wyatt noted that an IB program is viable as long as the number of students in the program can be divided into workable sections for teaching purposes. With respect to the number of students needed to establish a viable program, he noted that the Grade 9 IB program at Colonel By H.S. currently has 120 students. There are a total of approximately four hundred students enrolled in the Colonel By H.S. four year IB program In response to a query, staff estimated that approximately three or four schools could likely meet the proposed criteria for the establishment of an IB program Superintendent Mason noted that it would be difficult to establish work plans for the three or four schools that might express an interest in establishing an IB program He acknowledged that while a number of schools might meet the IB program criteria, staff may have to recommend the establishment of only one new program, to maintain the viability of the current program at Colonel By H.S., and in consideration of the costs involved in establishing a new program. boucation Committee 2 18 March 2002 Trustee Libbey noted the importance of determining where in the system the demand for the program exists, and to establish the program at a school nearby. During a brief discussion of the IB programs in the Edmonton District School Board, Trustee Spice noted that the school board offers 11 or 12 programs, some of which are offered at the Grade 8 level, and some that are very small in number. Trustee Libbey noted that the reference to schools having space for the program in their existing facilities in the fifth criterion is unnecessary given a similar reference in the third criterion, and he moved THAT "within the existing facilities" be deleted from the fifth criterion. The amendment was carried. A friendly amendment by Trustee Graham to replace the third criterion with the following, was accepted as friendly: iii) The school has available space within the existing facilities, to accommodate additional students. Trustee Spice requested that staff provide information regarding all of the costs associated with the establishment of an M program, including teacher training, and course materials. Staff agreed to provide an estimated budget to the principals and school council chairs at the IB program information sessions. In response to a query about disadvantaged students having access to the program, Principal Wyatt noted that at Colonel By H.S., parents have been supportive of eligible students participating in the program, and some parents have discreetly paid the IB program costs for students in financial need. Principal Zion noted that 140 qualified students could not be accepted into the Colonel By H.S. IB program last year due to lack of space. He also noted that the location of the new IB program(s) would have a significant impact on the number of students that apply to the program Superintendent Mason noted that, similarly to the MFI process to establish new sites, staff would weigh a variety of factors regarding location of the new program. A detailed work plan with respect to the establishment of IB programs will be presented to the Board for approval. Following the completion of the work plan, staff will present a report including recommendations for a new IB program(s), to the Board for approval. The motion, as amended, was carried. On a motion by Trustee Graham, your Committee therefore recommends: A. THAT THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA, AS AMENDED, FOR POTENTIAL SITES) OF AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM: i) iv V) SCHOOLS IN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION WHERE THERE IS SUFFICIENT DEMAND; SCHOOLS ARE TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO OC TRANSPO; SCHOOLS HAVE AVAILABLE SPACE, WITHIN THE EXISTING FACILITIES, TO ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS; SCHOOL COUNCILS, TEACHING STAFF AND STUDENTS SUPPORT THE APPLICATION; THE POTENTIAL IB PROGRAM(S) CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE EXISTING STAFFING AGREEMENTS, AND; Education Committee 3 18 March 2002 /0. vi) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRAM(S) DOES NOT IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON THE VIABILITY OF THE EXISTING IB PROGRAM AT COLONEL BY HIGH SCHOOL. B. THAT A LETTER BE SENT TO THE SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS INFORMING THEM OF THE IB WORK PLAN AND OF AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR THE PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL COUNCIL CHAIRS OF SCHOOLS WHICH MEET THE CRITERIA. EOAO Update Your Committee had before it report No. 02 -063 presenting the Board results of the Education Quality, and Accountability Office (EQAO) 2001 assessments, the Education Quality Indicators Program (EQUIP), and target- setting for the Ministry of Education. The report included the revised Grades 3 and 6 Reading, Writing and Mathematics results, the Grade 9 Mathematics results of 13 February 2002, an EQAO memorandum outlining some of the problems with the finalization of last year's results, and a letter to the Ministry that accompanied the OCDSB's target reports. School Profiles for 2001 -2002 binders were also distributed to trustees at the meeting. Superintendent Mason provided a brief overview of the report, noting that the EQAO experienced a variety of problems in the finalization of the tests, and commended Marjorie Clegg for her instrumental role in bringing inaccuracies and errors to EQAO's attention. Marjorie Clegg noted that in recent months, school boards have received six or seven versions of the Grade 3 and 6 test results, and are still awaiting the re- released Student Attitude results. She thanked Linda Clarke, and the rest of the Quality Assurance team for their tremendous EQAO work in recent months. Ms. Clegg referred to the EQAO memorandum on Folio 50, noting that EQAO appears to be adopting a more transparent, co- operative approach to the testing process and reporting of results, and is improving its internal quality assurance procedures to ensure that the problems that arose last year do not recur. With respect to the EQAO results, Ms. Clegg noted the importance of looking at more than one type of test when gauging students' performance, given the mobility of students across the system, and the fact that not all cohorts from year to year or school to school are equally able. As outlined on Folio 81, Ms. Clegg explained that the EQAO uses two methods of reporting the results: one method which includes all students; and a second that excludes students who were exempted, including special education students, and those with a significant language barrier, as well as those who did not produce any work as they were absent or had moved to another school. She pointed out that schools must evaluate both Method 1 and Method 2 as part of school improvement planning as they provide a more accurate picture of student performance. Ms. Clegg noted that for the first time, the OCDSB has comparison data for the same students in Grade 3 and Grade 6, and the results indicate an improvement in scores. She explained that students who obtain scores lower than Level 1 (50 -59 percent) have failed the test, and are reported by EQAO in the category of "not enough information to score ", which is separate from the category of exempted students. Ms. Clegg noted that that if a student attempts any part of the test, it is assumed by EQAO that the student has attempted to complete the test, and the scores will be included in Method 1. Ms. Clegg confirmed that a student will have passed the test by achieving Level 1, but noted that attaining Level 3, indicates that the student has achieved the provincial standard. Education Committee 4 18 March 2002 F] Tony Pearson expressed concern that while the EQAO does not release results in a ranked list, the (W data it publishes can be easily sorted and ranked, to the detriment of some schools. He expressed the view that the Board should be requesting that the EQAO not release any disaggregated data, and should be raising public awareness that the tests are not a valid measure of a particular school's effectiveness, and do not serve students well. Trustee Libbey requested that staff provide a written report on the Grade 3 EQAO reading test results, as correlated with various factors, including socioeconomic status. Staff agreed to provide the information at the 15 April meeting of the Education Committee. Ms. Clegg reported that the Grade 3 and 6 EQAO results were posted on the OCDSB web site on 6 March 2002, as part of the school profiles. In response to inquiries about the results, staff will be suggesting that the public access the school profiles on the web site, where the information is being provided in context. Marjorie Clegg noted that the Ministry of Education is conducting research on the various models of school improvement planning being used by school boards across the province, and in a recent draft report, the OCDSB was cited as having developed an excellent model. Ms. Clegg agreed to provide the Ministry's final report on this issue to trustees when it becomes available. During a brief discussion of how the results are reported by the media, Superintendent Mason noted that media attention is unavoidable and even if the test results are provided in a non - ranked fashion, the media will rank the results for publication. He pointed out that the important issue regarding the EQAO testing is how school boards use the data with respect to school improvement planning. Superintendent Mason noted that the OCDSB is two -years ahead of most school boards with respect to using the data in school improvement planning. Ron Gaudreau presented a summary of the Grade 9 mathematics results, noting that the EQAO assessment is not appropriate for applied students' learning styles, in that the tests are paper and pencil, text - heavy, timed, and do not include investigative or hands -on components. Mr. Gaudreau outlined a number of issues that need to be addressed related to the Grade 9 Mathematics testing, including a review of Grade 9 academic, applied, and locally developed courses, with the possible result of the EQAO providing more varied opportunities for applied students to demonstrate their understanding. Other issues related to a need for increased access to technology, opportunities to share resources, and staffing difficulties also need to be addressed by the Ministry. Trustee Graham noted the importance of having information about how the OCDSB schools compare to others in the province, with respect to student performance. Trustee Graham requested that a brief summary of the Grade 9 EQAO results be posted on the OCDSB web site, as public information and for use by trustees. Staff agreed to follow -up on the issue of posting the Grade 9 mathematics results on the OCDSB web site, as well as a brief overview of the results. Trustee Libbey moved A. THAT staff draft a letter to the Minister of Education for consideration by the Education Committee at its 15 April 2002 meeting with regard to the OCDSB's concerns about the expanded province -wide testing and asking the Ministry to reconsider the testing; and, B. THAT the OCDSB submit a motion to the Ontario Public School Boards' Association ( OPSBA) with regard to OCDSB's opposition to the expanded province -wide testing, if the deadline for submission of motions for consideration at the June OPSBA meeting has not already passed. Education Committee 5 18 March 2002 P. Trustees supported the initiative. The motion was carried. On a motion by Trustee Libbey, your Committee recommends: A. THAT STAFF DRAFT A LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AT ITS 15 APRIL 2002 MEETING, WITH REGARD TO THE OCDSB'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXPANDED PROVINCE -WIDE TESTING AND ASKING THE MINISTRY TO RECONSIDER THE TESTING; AND, B. THAT THE OCDSB SUBMIT A MOTION TO THE ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS' ASSOCIATION (OPSBA) WITH REGARD TO OCDSB'S OPPOSITION TO THE EXPANDED PROVINCE -WIDE TESTING. Lisa Falls noted that elementary teachers are being advised not to mark EQAO tests in the summer months. Teachers will continue to administer the tests as part of the workday, but given the increased intensity and length of the tests, and although they are paid for their services, the union is advising teachers not to mark them during their time off this summer. Superintendent Mason acknowledged the OCETF's concerns about the impact of EQAO testing on teachers' workload and the reduction in time for classroom instruction, but pointed out that if teachers withdraw from marking, the Ministry may release them entirely from the process, and have the tests marked in an automated fashion. In response to a query, Ms. Clegg confirmed that, at least temporarily, parents can engage in a formal process to have their child's EQAO results removed from their Ontario Student Record (OSR). In response to Betty Tait's query about the timelines for the EQAO test results being made available to the public, Ms. Clegg noted that the results are not released to the public until the information has been included in the school profiles, which occurred this year, in early March. 6. Canterbury High School Arts Program Follow -Up Your Committee had before it for information report No. 02 -073 providing an update on the follow -up meetings with respect to the Canterbury High School arts program- Superintendent MacLeod provided an overview of the report, noting that at the final meeting of three recently held meetings, it was agreed that a research project would be initiated to prepare for a planning/visioning/future search process related to the future of Canterbury H.S., to be undertaken by a broad stakeholders' planning group. Trustee Spice emphasized that there is uncertainty as to the initiative that will follow the report of the research project. It is possible that rather than a visioning process, the Board may decide to address the issue of secondary school reform as a whole, which might incorporate issues related to Arts Canterbury. In response to a query, Superintendent MacLeod noted that it is unlikely that the results of the research project will be available at the 15 April meeting of the Education Committee. Trustee Graham emphasized the need for the Education Committee to have the opportunity to provide direction to staff following the research project, and prior to the visioning/Future Search process. She noted that, in the interest of saving time, the report on the research project could be presented to the 24 April Chair's Committee meeting, rather than delaying its presentation until the 21 May meeting of the Education Committee. Education Committee 6 18 March 2002 P] /9� In response to a query, Superintendent MacLeod reported that the review of the Canterbury HS arts courses is underway with the Ministry. Department heads will be presenting an overview of the new courses, which comply with Ministry guidelines, to the Canterbury HS School Council on 21 March 2002. She confirmed that the credit levels at the school have not been changed for the 2002 -2003 school year. The Board will be offering an 8- credit system, however, students will still have the opportunity to attain 9.5 credits over four years. During a brief discussion of charging user fees for arts courses, Superintendent MacLeod noted that it was her understanding that Canterbury HS is intending to charge students a fee to access the arts courses. Trustee Spice suggested that the Board should assess the Board -wide incidence of charging fees for all courses, including the arts. She noted the importance of having a clear understanding of user fees in relation to school fees. Superintendent Mason noted that there is a great deal of variance across the system and among school boards regarding what fees are charged to students for such items as uniforms, or courses. He noted that principals are cognizant of community expectations, and he suggested that the issue remain the responsibility of principals at the school level. 7. Safe and Carine Schools (SACS) Proiect Your Committee had before it report No. 02 -071 providing information with respect to the implementation process for the Safe and Caring Schools (SACS) project. The project is comprehensive violence prevention and character - education endeavour designed to encourage school practices that model and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours and contribute to the development of safe and caring classroom and school cultures. Principal Powell presented an overview of the report, noting that the "Building Resiliency" and "Morning Meeting" workshops encourage teachers to build relationships with students, especially at risk students, based on the concept that a supportive, caring adult can have a powerful, positive impact on a student's life and academic achievement. Principal Powell reported that the Dating Violence Prevention initiative, funded by the Ontario Women's Directorate, continues its prevention and crisis management efforts to reduce the number of incidents that have to be dealt with by social workers and the police. During a brief discussion of the upcoming Fear and Loathing Conference, which will be held in Ottawa, staff noted that the conference information is being provided to teachers, but there is no central funding available for them. Lisa Falls noted that teachers would likely be interested in attending the conference, but that being given release time by their principals is the impediment. Principal Powell acknowledged the issue, but noted that release time for teachers is at the principal's discretion. Trustee Lange expressed support for the SACS project, but noted that an emphasis on prevention measures at the elementary level needs to be built into the system Referring to the incidence of suspensions among young children, she expressed the view that there should be alternatives to suspension in place across the system to deal with a student's inappropriate behaviour. 8. New Business There was no new business. Education Committee 7 18 March 2002 /'f The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m. Margaret Lange, Chair Education Committee ky /mins 18=02.doc Education Committee 8 18 March 2002