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EQAO: A Source of Information for Evidence-Based Decision Making

Masters Course Presentation

Dr. Brian Desbiens, EQAO Chair

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Today’s Outcomes

•understand the importance of evidence-based decision making in improving student learning•learn more about EQAO as a source of information for evidence-based decision making•become familiar with the EQAO assessments as an authentic measure of student learning outcomes • learn about educator resources that support school improvement planning and instructional decisions

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Reach Every Student: Energizing Ontario Education

High levels of student achievement

Reduced gaps in student achievement

Increased confidence in publicly funded education

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What would it take to ensurestudent achievement increases at

every grade level, subject area,and with every student group?

Challenges Action Plans

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Where do we use evidence-based decision making in our own personal

and professional lives?

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EQAO: An Historical Perspective

Established in 1996 Result of the recommendations by

the Royal Commission on Learning Created as an arms-length agency of

the Ministry of Education Governed by a Board of Directors

appointed by Cabinet

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What is EQAO’s Mandate?

To assess all students according to the curriculum expectations in designated subjects and provide accurate, valid and objective information about their performance to: Parents Students Schools School boards Ontario government Public

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What is the Value of Assessing All Students?

Recommendation of the Ontario Government’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts, 2010:

“EQAO should continue its policy of every child testing.”

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When do EQAO Assessments Take Place?

Primary (Grades 1-3) and Junior (Grades 4-6) Assessments: Reading, Writing & Mathematics

Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics (Academic & Applied Programs)

Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

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How do the EQAO Assessments Link to

The Ontario Curriculum?

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Elementary and Secondary Framework Documents

Framework Documents

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Blueprint for EQAO Assessments

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“To be successful, all organizations need reliable, objective performance data. Students, parents, educators, policy makers and the public benefit from data that can be used to make reasonable judgments about how well schools are performing and to determine what changes need to be made to make schools better for all students.”

Marguerite Jackson, EQAO CEO

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How is Student Achievement Reported? Primary/Junior Student Report

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What Reports do Schools Receive?

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Summary of Results and Strategies for Teachers

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What information does EQAO provide?

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News release

Pinewood Public School, Dryden

“A positive impact on student achievement must begin with an examination of data that informs instruction, and subsequently guides school improvement planning.”

—Max Bernauer, Principal

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Changes in Teacher Practiceand School Culture

As a result of using data to drive educational decision making, teachers report:

• greater differentiation of instruction• greater collaboration among staff• increased sense of teacher efficacy• improved identification of students’ learning needs

Using Data to Improve Student Achievement 2008

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What is a School Improvement

Plan?The SIP is a road map that sets out the changes a school needs to make in order to improve the level of student achievement

and shows how and when these changes will be made.

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School Self-Assessment

Consider: Are we reaching our student learning

and achievement goals? How do we know? What is the

quantitative and qualitative evidence that supports this?

What actions will we take to ensure continuous improvement?

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Where do I Find EQAO Resources?

www.eqao.com

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EQAO Web-site

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Educator Resources @ www.eqao.com

Framework Documents (Chapter 6: Blueprint)

Understanding the Levels of Achievement Curriculum Connections Administration Guide and Guide for

Accommodations & Special Provisions and Exemptions

Student Assessment Booklets & Scoring Guides

Rubrics Classroom Tips Summary of Results and Strategies for

Teachers, Resources to Use with Parents

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Curriculum Connections

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Understanding the Levels of Achievement

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DATA organized is INFORMATION analyzed is KNOWLEDGE contextualized becomes UNDERSTANDING transferred is INTELLIGENCE used with Integrity is WISDOM

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Questions and Answers