Four Schools in Central Ontario Profiled by EQAO

CENTRAL ONTARIO, Sept. 15 /CNW/ - Four of the 27 schools profiled in the Education Quality and Accountability Office's (EQAO's) Provincial Reports, released today, are located in central Ontario. These schools are at various stages in their own journey of learning but all are representative of the dedicated school communities that can be found right across Ontario. They are notable for their leadership, data-driven strategies and whole-school approaches to help every child succeed. Based on their unique circumstances, each one of these schools has adopted an action plan to work toward improved student outcomes using provincial assessment results as a guide.

Elementary Schools:

• Mariposa Elementary School, Oakwood
  "It's that specific knowledge of data—the teacher having and actually using the data, being aware of the data, knowing where the kids are going and what their needs are. That to me is more important than charts and graphs on the staff-room wall."
  —Erich Remisch, principal
  

• St. John Vianney Catholic School, Barrie
  "Early in September, after the EQAO data are examined, various diagnostic assessments such as PM Benchmarks and CASI are used to identify the achievement levels of the students, and targets are set."
  —Excerpt from EQAO's Case Studies: Schools on the Journey of Learning
  

Secondary Schools:

• Crestwood Secondary School, Peterborough
  "I'm a big believer in data. It can be very helpful, especially when looking at data over time. Unless you're talking about data, you're just talking. It's a great direction setter."
  —Jim Rielly, principal
  
  
• Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Peterborough
  "Our EQAO data really confirms and reaffirms what we know and see. EQAO gives up good data. We've taken that data and brought it to life to boil down to students, to make it real, not an afterthought and not an event. It's embedded in what we do."
  —Tim Moloney, principal

"EQAO results allow school communities to celebrate their successes and identify areas of student learning requiring further attention and support," said Marguerite Jackson, EQAO's Chief Executive Officer. "Used together with other classroom data, EQAO results help complete the picture of student achievement and, over the years, have become an essential tool that educators across the province rely on for their improvement planning."

Some of the common factors that schools identify in addressing the literacy and numeracy needs of students are professional learning communities; data-driven decision making; a whole-school approach to literacy, numeracy and student achievement; small-group learning for literacy and numeracy; differentiated instruction; high-quality teaching; early intervention; tracking of all student progress; parental involvement; the coordination of school and board improvement planning; and implementing Ministry of Education initiatives.

The provincial news release "EQAO Releases School and Board Achievement Results and Profiles 27 Schools" and a backgrounder are also available.

Results for all publicly funded elementary and secondary schools and their school boards are available at www.eqao.com.

Les résultats des écoles de langue française sont disponibles en français.

For further information:

For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact

Katia Collette
Communications Officer
416-212-7047
[email protected]