News Release
June 11, 2008
For Immediate Release
Dufferin-Peel students/schools continue improved literacy test results
Results from the March 2008 administration of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) indicate improvement, with a 1 percent increase in the number of Dufferin-Peel students who passed the test from the previous administration in March 2007. This year, 86% of Dufferin-Peel students who wrote the OSSLT for the first time successfully completed the test, compared with a pass rate of 84%for students across the province writing the test for the first time.
“Dufferin-Peel’s OSSLT results continue to be above the provincial average, and demonstrate some promising growth compared to the previous year. Overall, our students have maintained this high level of achievement for four consecutive years and we remain pleased by the success that they have achieved,” said Ralph Borrelli, Associate Director, Instructional Services. “Our students’ success has come from the dedication of Catholic school partners in supporting all students, particularly those at risk of not passing the test. This on-going collaboration between schools, students, families and local parishes has created a positive environment that fosters support and improved achievement.
The OSSLT is conducted annually by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), an independent agency with the mandate to ensure greater accountability and to help improve the quality of education. The Literacy Test provides an indication of each student’s achievement of reading and writing skills up to the end of Grade 9.
The March 2008 OSSLT results report on two groups of students: “first-time eligible students” (students who entered Grade 9 during the 2006-2007 school year and any others who were placed in this cohort) and “previously eligible students” (students who entered Grade 9 prior to 2006-2007 and who have not successfully completed the test). Students who were not successful during a previous administration must successfully complete the Literacy Test or, alternatively, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course. Successful completion of the Literacy Test or the Literacy Course is one of the thirty-two requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
The results for first-time eligible students who wrote and passed the test in the last six administrations of the Literacy Test are presented below:
|
First-Time Eligible |
Dufferin-Peel |
Province |
March 2008 |
86 % |
84 % |
March 2007 |
85 % |
84 % |
March 2006 |
86 % |
84 % |
October 2004 |
84 % |
82 % |
October 2003 |
75 % |
77 % |
|
October 2002 |
67 % |
72 % |
|
February 2002 |
76 % |
75 % |
The March 2008 Literacy Test results for previously eligible students are presented below:
Previously Eligible |
Dufferin-Peel |
Province |
|
Successfully Completed the OSSLT |
58 % |
51 % |
|
Wrote the OSSLT But Were Not Successful |
42 % |
49 % |
“Improvement in the results of this year's Literacy test results demonstrates the success of our continued efforts to support students within the rich learning environment of our Catholic schools.” commented Marianne Mazzorato, Superintendent of Program. “As a board, we continue to focus on building capacity to support all of our students in our elementary and secondary schools. This year, our efforts have helped a greater proportion of our students to experience success. Our results are particularly impressive for those writing the Literacy Test for the second time.”
Practices in place in Dufferin-Peel schools that continue to prove successful include: delivering literacy instruction across the curriculum in Grade 9; providing all Grade 9 students with an OSSLT simulation opportunity and a Success Tips booklet; offering additional learning opportunities to Grade 10 students through After School and Summer Literacy programs; and providing explicit instructional preparation over the first and second semesters to support improved student achievement in reading and writing in all courses.
Dufferin-Peel will analyze the Literacy Test results in greater detail to provide support to schools, parents and students in order to ensure that more students are better prepared to pass the test. Each school has its own literacy plan, which will be reviewed in the context of the test results, to improve students’ reading and writing skills in all subject areas. School plans include strategies to assist all students, including remediation for students who did not successfully complete the Literacy Test.
Individual school results will be available on the board website at www.dpcdsb.org in the fall of 2008. Additional information on the test can be obtained through the EQAO web site at www.eqao.com.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is one of largest and most diverse school districts in Ontario, with approximately 88,000 students in 144 Catholic schools throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and Orangeville. With over 10,000 employees, the board is also one of the largest employers in the region. It is the goal of the board to provide quality education to students in a setting which fosters Catholic values and beliefs.
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For more information, please contact:
Marianne Mazzorato Bruce Campbell
Superintendent, General Manager,
Program Communications &Community Relations
Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB
(905) 890-0708 ext. 24261 (905) 890-0708, ext. 24466 or (905) 609-1480
marianne.mazzorato@dpcdsb.org bruce.campbell@dpcdsb.org