[French]

Ceci est un avis important. Veuillez le faire traduire.

January 19, 2015 Dear Parents and Guardians of Students in Grades 4 and 7: Subject: Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) – February 2015 The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) is an annual province-wide assessment of British Columbia students’ academic skills, and provides a snapshot of how well BC students are learning foundation skills in reading comprehension, first draft writing, and numeracy (mathematics). The FSA provides a snapshot of specific skills only. The FSA is not a thorough examination over time of all desired learning outcomes for students. The assessed skills are parts of the foundation that students need for further development of their reading, writing, and numeracy skills and for future learning success. The FSA is one of many measures used to determine how students are progressing and should be considered along with the ongoing assessments and professional judgments carried out by teachers. Since 2001, the FSA has been scored with reference to the British Columbia Performance Standards for reading, writing and numeracy. These performance standards are internationally acknowledged as being comprehensive and age-appropriate. FSA results are communicated at the provincial level, school district level, and individual student level (confidentially to parents). FSA scores are not part of the evaluations included in students’ report cards. The main purpose of the FSA is to help the province, school districts, and schools evaluate a variety of approaches to providing effective educational programs for a diverse range of students. Close analysis and careful comparisons of FSA scores by professional educators, together with analysis of data from other sources, enable school districts to plan for improvements to educational programs. Small differences in results between grades and parts of the assessment, or from school to school, should not be regarded as significant. Comparisons of results between schools require that a variety of demographic, social, and cultural factors be taken into account. The use of FSA results in ranking schools has no validity. The FSA in 2015 The FSA will be administered between January 26 and February 13, 2015. The reading comprehension and numeracy portions of the FSA consist of both multiple choice and written response questions. The writing portion of the FSA consists of two impromptu writing tasks, one longer text and one shorter text. The multiple-choice portions of the FSA will be done online using computers at each school site. Students will be assisted in understanding the online multiple-choice application and technical assistance will be provided at each school. The written response portions will be marked within school districts. The marked written response booklets will be mailed to the parents, along with the individual student’s results, by the end of March 2015.

…/2

Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) – February 2015 January 19, 2015 Page 2 Who Will Write the FSA? The Ministry of Education has made it clear to all Superintendents and Boards of Education that writing of the FSA is expected for all students (including French Immersion) in Grades 4 and 7, with very few exceptions. School Principals will excuse from writing any students with special needs who have Individual Education Plans (IEPs) documenting a disability that significantly impacts their performance, and English Language Learners (ELL students) with insufficient levels of language proficiency to understand the test questions. In addition, Principals may excuse a student in the event of a family emergency, a lengthy illness, or other extenuating circumstances of similar seriousness. A parent’s submission of a form letter to the Principal will not, of itself, constitute proof of extenuating circumstances. I hope this information will clarify any questions you might have about the Foundation Skills Assessment. If you require any further information concerning your child’s writing of the FSA, please communicate directly with your School Principal. Additional information is available on the BC Ministry of Education website [Link] and in the following documents attached to this letter:

1. Foundation Skills Assessment: Information for Parents 2. Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA): Questions and Answers (Translated versions are

available in 14 additional languages [Link])

Thank you for your ongoing support of the School District’s efforts to provide the best possible educational programs for students in the North Vancouver School District. Yours sincerely, John Lewis Superintendent of Schools JCL/ps cc Board of Education Executive Committee Principals and Vice-Principals

FOUNDATION SKILLS ASSESSMENTINFORMATION FOR PARENTS

WHAT IS FSA?

The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) is a set of reading, writing and numeracy tests administered each winter to B.C. students in grades 4 and 7.

FSA does not measure students’ ability to memorize speci�c facts; it measures reading, writing and math problem-solving skills that students have gained during several years of learning. Some of the questions are easy and some are more challenging. Students answer the multiple choice questions on the computer and do their written work in a booklet that goes home to parents by March 31, along with the student’s overall assessment results. FSA results do not count toward student grades.

PURPOSE

FSA provides a “snapshot” of how well B.C. students are doing. Results help answer important questions, such as:

• Are all students learning vital skills they will need in school and in life?

• Is student achievement improving over time?

• Are there any trends in student performance at the school, district or provincial levels?

• How are speci�c groups of students doing?

VALUE FOR PARENTS

FSA is meant to complement – not replace – classroom learning. Along with classroom assessment and report card information, FSA provides valuable information to parents on how their child is performing in reading, writing and numeracy.

VALUE FOR EDUCATORS

Schools get information on how groups of students did on speci�c types of FSA questions. Using information from FSA, the Ministry of Education works with school districts to provide support for students and to improve teaching and learning for the coming school year.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS

FSA results also show where individual students excel and where they struggle. FSA reading scores, for example, are a reliable predictor of a student’s likelihood of completing school on time. Paying attention to individual student results allows parents and educators to make early interventions that will lead to success later in a child’s schooling.

PREPARATION

Because they already cover reading, writing and numeracy in their regular classroom activities, teachers and students do not need to take time away from classroom learning to study for FSA.

Students will be able to do their best if they are comfortable with the FSA format, which means knowing the type of questions, how to answer multiple choice questions on the computer section, and how long answers should be on the written questions.

TIME

The entire assessment takes about four and a half hours to complete, and most schools spread them over the course of two or three days. That’s less than 10 hours in total of provincial assessment from Kindergarten through Grade 9.

COSTS

FSA is not expensive. It costs about $20 for each student in Grade 4 and Grade 7, or an average of $2 a year over a student’s �rst 10 years of schooling.

SCHOOL RANKING

The Ministry of Education does not support the rating or ranking of schools based on FSA results. However, the Ministry does support making school, district and provincial level results available to the public.

FSA provides valuable information on student learning, but is only one measure of student performance. School rankings based solely on FSA ignore other important measures of student achievement and fail to account for factors such as demographics, location, school programming as well as some of the various features that characterize individual schools and school populations.

SAMPLE VS. CENSUS

FSA is about more than the overall performance of the provincial school system. All Grade 4 and Grade 7 students are expected to write the FSA because information about every child is important to parents and to schools. A sample of students would not provide information at the school or district level about speci�c groups of learners who may need extra help, nor would it provide information about individual children.

FSA FACTS

There is a strong correlation between FSA scores and eventual school completion.

For students who met or exceeded expectations in Grade 7 reading achievement, the completion rates are 90 per cent and 100 per cent respectively. These results have been consistent over the past four years.

Over the same period, among Grade 7 students who did not meet expectations in reading achievement, fewer than 67 per cent completed high school within the six-year time frame.

The same correlation can be seen at the grade 4 level.

TIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESSThere is no additional preparation required for FSA; however, following these simple tips will help your child prepare for any test, including FSA.

• Ask your children questions about their schoolwork and encourage them to talk about what they’re learning.

• Set up a study area away from the TV with adequate supplies and lighting.

• Be avaassistance, but never do a child’s homework for them.

• Students do better when they are healthy, well-rested and alert. Make sure your child gets a good sleep, eats a complete breakfast and arrives at school on time.

• Help your children get a library card and plan your trips to the library.

• If your children are struggling, talk to their teachers and work with them to develop a strategy for improvement.

FOR SCHOOL, DISTRICT AND PROVINCIAL RESULTS, SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT:

www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/fsa

Information for Students, Parents and Guardians Foundation Skills Assessment: Questions and Answers

1 Question What is the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA)? Answer FSA is a set of tests in reading, writing and numeracy. FSA measures important skills in the

provincial curriculum. It measures skills students have gained in several school years, not just in a single year.

2 Question Have there been changes made to FSA? Answer Yes, three important changes were introduced to FSA in 2008:

1. The FSA occurs in February instead of May. 2. The multiple-choice questions (not the written answers) are done online, using

computers. 3. Teachers score students’ written work but the scoring takes place in schools or

districts and not in a central location. These changes allow results to be returned earlier, within the same school year.

3 Question Why were changes made to FSA in 2008? Answer The changes enable the Ministry to provide results back to parents by the end of March, and

results back at district and school levels within the school year. For those students struggling with these foundation skills, FSA provides another measure for schools to make plans to help individual students and groups of students before the end of the school year.

4 Question Why is FSA done on a census (all students basis) rather than a random sample basis

(some students, in some schools)? Answer A census provides information about every individual student. A sampling approach will

not provide information at the school or district level about:

• specific groups like aboriginal students, ESL students, students with special needs by category, children in care and other vulnerable students

• school districts and schools • Individual student achievement levels for all parents and teachers.

These pieces of information are only provided by taking a census approach. This approach allows strategic and focused planning for improvement in achievement for individual students, groups of students, schools and school districts within BC. This information would not be available if a sampling approach were used.

5 Question The big national and international tests rely on a sample basis. Why not FSA? Answer The national and international tests only give results at the provincial level. FSA is about

more than the overall performance of the provincial school system. These sample-based tests do not give any information specific to school districts, schools, several specific groups of students or individual students. The big international tests do not provide any information about a school district, a school or an individual student's performance.

1

2

Question 6 How long does the FSA take? Answer Approximately four and a half hours. Schools have four weeks during which to give

FSA. Most schools spread FSA over at least three sessions so students have a chance to do their best. Students take FSA only in Grade 4 and 7 – so that is less than 10 hours of provincial testing from Kindergarten through Grade 9.

7 Question Do students have to practice for FSA? Doesn’t this practice take away from classroom

time? Answer Students should be covering foundation skills of reading, writing and numeracy in their

regular classroom activities. Teachers and students do not need to “skill and drill” for FSA. However, students will be able to do their best if they are comfortable with the FSA format (the type of questions, how to answer on the computer sections, and how long their answers should be on the written questions). Sample FSA questions are available at: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/fsa/

8 Question Why are BC students writing this test? Answer The primary purpose of FSA is to help schools, school planning councils, school districts

and the province evaluate how foundation skills are being addressed and make plans for improvement. The secondary purpose is to give parents, teachers and principals information about individual students. FSA provides a “snapshot” of how well BC students are doing on foundation skills. It helps answer important questions such as “Are students learning vital skills they will need later?” “Is student achievement improving over time?” “Are there any trends in student performance at the school, district or provincial levels?” and “How are specific groups of students doing?” FSA results can show students, parents and teachers where students are doing well and skills they need to work on. FSA results complement classroom work and report card information and usually there is a good match between these different types of information. When there are differences, parents should check with their child’s teacher.

9 Question Is FSA expensive? Answer FSA costs about $7.50 per test for each student in Grade 4 and 7. This includes such things

as creating the tests, printing and shipping the answer booklets, providing money to school districts to train scorers and giving schools and districts added information about how groups of their students did on FSA questions. School districts may have some expenses to complete the local scoring.

10 Question Who creates the FSA tests? Answer BC teachers are contracted by the Ministry to develop the FSA tests. 11 Question Who takes FSA? Answer With very limited exceptions, the FSA is taken each year by all students in Grades 4 and

7 in BC public schools and publicly-funded independent schools. 12 Question What type of test is FSA? Answer The reading and numeracy tests consist of multiple-choice questions and written answers.

The writing section has two writing tasks—one shorter and one longer.

3

13 Question How is FSA scored? Answer Scoring of the multiple-choice questions is automated. These are the biggest sections of

the reading and numeracy tests. Each school district and each independent school takes care of scoring the written questions. Students get separate scores for reading, writing and numeracy. And remember that the written responses to the reading and numeracy are important but they represent only a small portion of the students’ final scores on these sections. There is no overall score for FSA.

14 Question If the written sections are scored locally, how do we know the scoring is fair, accurate

and consistent? Answer Training and scoring information are available on the Ministry website. During the

scoring sessions, trained scorers follow Ministry guidelines and use provincial scoring guides and examples of student work. This way, common standards are used across the province. It isn’t necessary to score each question twice. Scorers develop a better understanding of the provincial standards by discussing some of their scores with each other. In addition, the Ministry takes a sample of FSA written answers and re-scores them during the summer. Districts and schools are asked for those samples right after they have done their scoring. The re-scoring does not change any student or school results but it allows the Ministry to give schools and school districts tips on how to get as close as possible to the provincial standards.

15 Question What happens to the FSA scores? Answer After schools give the Ministry the scores for the written questions, the Ministry

combines the scores with the multiple-choice scores and gives the total back to the schools, in a report for each student. Then schools share individual student results with parents. Schools send each student’s three separate FSA scores (reading, writing and numeracy) home to parents in March. The results are not marks, letter grades or percentages. The scores are placed in broad categories: “Performance Level Unknown”, “Not Yet Meeting Expectations”, “Meeting Expectations” or “Exceeding Expectations”. Schools will send these results home along with the booklet the student used for the written work for FSA. Parents are encouraged to discuss the results with their child’s teacher. The Ministry of Education uses all of the individual student scores from schools to produce school, district and provincial results. At this stage, the scores are first “weighted” (for example, the more difficult questions, based on how all students across the province did on each question, are given a slight amount of “extra credit”). And then the results are “equated”, by looking at how all the students in BC did on any of the questions that have been used in earlier years of FSA. Some questions are kept secure and used as “anchors” to see if improvement is made from year to year. The final school results are ready in the spring. Schools and districts use this information for planning and monitoring trends in student achievement.

16 Question Do FSA results count towards students’ report card marks? Answer No, FSA results do not count towards the student’s report card marks. However, the FSA

results should complement other information such as report card marks and results from classroom assessment activities. Sometimes the information from FSA seems different

4

from the information parents have been receiving from the school. A child’s teacher is in the best position to explain why this might be the case. FSA results should help parents and teachers discuss ways to improve student learning.

17 Question How can parents and teachers support FSA? Answer Encourage all children to do their best without putting pressure on them. Remind them

that there may be some questions on topics from the previous school year and maybe a few they haven’t covered yet. This is normal because some topics are covered in different order in different schools. Parents can ensure their children are well rested and attend school during the testing period. Parents can also discuss the results with their children and teachers in March.

18 Question What about students with special needs? Answer All students are encouraged to take part, wherever possible, in all aspects of their

educational program, including FSA. A few students with exceptional needs may be exempted from all or part of FSA. Schools receive guidelines to identify these students and inform the parents or guardians if a student is exempted.

19 Question What about ESL students? Answer Most ESL students take part in all aspects of FSA. A few—those who have not yet

developed basic English skills—do not. 20 Question What about Programme francophone and French Immersion students? Answer Programme francophone students receive French versions of FSA and respond in French.

French Immersion students receive English versions and respond in English. 21 Question How can I get more information about FSA? Answer You will find:

• sample FSA tests – including the on-line questions • scoring guides • examples of student responses to typical FSA questions • samples of the individual student report • ….. and more …..

on the Ministry of Education website at: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/fsa/ The school results will be available through this site in the spring. Schools also receive additional information about how their students did as a group on specific test questions. This information is available at: www.edudata.educ.ubc.ca

22 Question What do schools and districts do with FSA results? Answer Schools and districts use their results for planning and monitoring trends in student

achievement. FSA results can help schools and districts see if they are making improvements from one year to the next. The goal is for each school to improve student achievement over time. Questions about school or district results should be directed to the school principal, the school planning council or the superintendent.