Public board trustees cite Indigenous student results, math and English as concerns EVA FERGUSON
Public school trustees identified areas of concern in math, English and Indigenous student results after debating a report on academic achievement Tuesday, meaning administrators may have to readjust learning strategies in some areas.
After discussing pages of data on academic results in all subjects, trustees agreed that reasonable progress has been made in several areas. But they refused to accept the information without contention, and took exception to achievement in three core areas.
Indigenous student results from 2017-18 showed an average of only 43.2 per cent of students who self-identified as Indigenous achieving the acceptable standard on provincial achievement tests in grades 6 and 9.
While the CBE introduced an Indigenous Education Strategy more than two years ago — including more Indigenous knowledge systems, respect for local history and a focus on improved attendance — trustees raised concerns that some of the system’s most marginalized students are still struggling.
“The needle has not moved in regards to academic success for Indigenous students,” said trustee Julie Hrdlicka.
“This is not OK and we are not fulfilling our obligation.”
A section of the report outlining student survey results also indicated a lack of confidence among students in reading and writing, with only 35.4 per cent of Grade 9 students reporting they understand their learning and can explain how they are progressing.
Trustees agreed reading and writing need to be identified as areas of concern with a direction to report back on improvements or strategies by next fall.
As well, standardized test results in math continue to be an area of concern, trustees agreed, voting unanimously to keep closely monitoring strategies.
Last fall, the CBE released standardized-test results showing more than 40 per cent of Grade 9 students failed their math exams last year, while officials also confirmed that acceptable standards were much lower than 50 per cent.
According to the data released in late October, only 59.4 per cent of CBE students achieved acceptable standards in the Grade 9 math provincial achievement test for the 2017-18 school year.
“We continue to see weakness across a large portion of the program,” said trustee Lisa Davis. “And the Grade 9 results are very troubling. And as we look back over the last three years we’re not seeing significant improvement.
“Kids who fall behind, they just don’t seem to catch up.”
Chief superintendent Christopher Usih agreed to ensure administration reports back by November of this year with an update on strategies and results around each area of concern.
“We will never be comfortable with results that don’t demonstrate success for all students,” he said. “These are very important conversations to keep having. We are committed to success and it’s a responsibility we take seriously.”