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July 7, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 22
WHAT'S INSIDE?
Safe Schools Act – Trustee Survey
New Research Report on Reading Standards from EQAO
Ministry of Education UPDATE
Teachers! Access FREE Online professional learning webcasts
Calendar of Events
Safe Schools Act – Trustee Survey
One of the requirements of the Safe Schools Act is that hearings for expulsions be heard by a panel of at least three board members. As a result of an inquiry about how boards were managing this aspect of the legislation, OPSBA conducted a sample poll involving a number of boards across the province. The results are available online in the document “Trustees surveyed on the impact of requirements of Trustees in the Safe Schools Act 2007.”
For more information: Dave Walpole, Director of Program Policy, ext.125
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New Research Report on Reading Standards from EQAO
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has announced a new research report that compares constructs, assessment formats and standards used for the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)with those used for the Reading component of EQAO.
The full report is available online at: http://www.eqao.com/Research/research.aspx?status=logout&Lang=E
The following excerpt from the summary outlines the report’s conclusions:
"The research identified similarities and differences in the treatment of reading by the EQAO and PIRLS assessments. Among the similarities was the fact that, in both assessments, a large majority of the questions assessed students’ abilities to infer, interpret and integrate ideas and information. Both assessments considered retrieving and understanding explicitly stated information to be less demanding and therefore devoted a smaller proportion of questions to assessing this reading skill. Both assessments included informational and literary texts as reading passages, with some informational texts taking non-continuous forms. The expectations corresponding to the high international benchmark (for PIRLS) and Level 3 (Ontario provincial standard) were comparable.
A difference between the two assessments was that the EQAO reading construct was clearly linked to The Ontario Curriculum, whereas the PIRLS construct was rooted in broader societal topics and values. Further, the EQAO assessment explicitly invited students to use their background knowledge and experience to answer questions, whereas the PIRLS assessment did not. (Ontario’s elementary language curriculum expects students to use knowledge and skills to make connections within and between various contexts, such as between the text and personal knowledge and experience.) Although both assessments allotted more possible points to open-response than to multiple-choice questions, the open response questions counted for more points on the EQAO assessments than on PIRLS.
The overall conclusion of the English- and French-language standards studies was that the constructs, benchmarks and performance levels for the EQAO and PIRLS assessments were sufficiently comparable to allow for reasonable comparisons of the overall findings and the trends in student performance over time."
Additional information is available in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (2006): Ontario Report at http://www.eqao.com/pdf_e/07/07P091e.pdf
See
MEMORANDUM re EQAO Research
Research for fostering constructive conversations about large-scale assessments and improving student learning
Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (2006): Ontario Report
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Ministry of Education UPDATE
MEMORANDUM
2008: B8 Student Transportation
(1) Fuel Enhancement for 2007-08
(2) Fuel Cost Study 2008-09 (French)
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Memo Summary: June 2008
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ISSUE DATE
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FROM
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DOCUMENT TITLE/DETAILS
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27/06/2008
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Don Young, Director, Information Management Branch
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MISA Memo: Managing Information for Student Achievement (MISA)
2008-09 Local Capacity Building Funding
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27/06/2008
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Nancy Naylor, Assistant Deputy Minister, Business & Finance Division
Keith West, Chief Drinking Water Inspector, Ministry of the Environment
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2008 B9: Annual Water Sampling for Lead per O. Reg. 243/07
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27/06/2008
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Steve Marshall, Deputy Minister
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Memo: Finding Common Ground: Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12
See also:
Finding Common Ground: Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12
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26/06/2008
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Nancy Naylor, Assistant Deputy Minister
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2008 B8: Student Transportation:
(1) Fuel Enhancement for 2007-08
(2) Fuel Cost Study, 2008-09
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26/06/2008
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Barry Pervin, Assistant Deputy Minister (A), Instruction and Leadership Development Division, Ministry of Education
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Urban and Priority High Schools Funding
See also:
Application Guidelines: Urban and Priority High Schools Funding
Application Form: Urban and Priority High Schools Funding
Eligible Number of Schools by Board and by City
Board by Board list of Eligible Schools
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25/06/2008
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Ann Perron, Chief Executive Officer, Interim, The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat
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Tutors in the Classroom
See also:
Application For Grant Approval For 2008-2009 Tutors In The Classroom Program
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25/06/2008
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Steve Marshall, Deputy Minister
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Mentoring for Newly Appointed School Leaders
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25/06/2008
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Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education
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Thank you for a wonderful school year
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23/06/2008
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Barry Pervin, Assistant Deputy Minister (A), Instruction and Leadership Development Division
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Amendments to Ontario Regulation 309: Supervisory Officers - Qualifications and Appointment of Supervisory Officers and Directors of Education
See also:
Amendments to Supervisory Officer Qualifications: Questions and Answers
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23/06/2008
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George Zegarac, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Planning and Elementary/Secondary Programs Division
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Divisional focus for 2008-09
See also:
Appendix A: The Curriculum Review Cycle – 7 year
Appendix B: Student Success Resources
Appendix C: Division contribution to professional development in 2008-09
"Energizing Ontario Education"
Aménagement linguistique initiatives
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23/06/2008
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Paul Anthony, Director, Teaching Policy and Standards Branch
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June Update – New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP)
See also:
Financial Questions from the NTIP Regional Teleconferences
New Teacher Induction Program Summary
Evaluation of The New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) Year One Results Executive Summary
http://tpfr.edu.gov.on.ca/NTIP.htm
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20/06/2008
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Alayne Bigwin, Director, Aboriginal Education Office
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Funding Opportunities for Aboriginal Education
See also:
Funding Opportunities for Aboriginal Education 2008-09: School Board Proposal
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20/06/2008
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Joan Fullerton, Barrie Regional Manager
Stephen Simard, North Bay Regional Manager (Acting)
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Letters of Permission Teleconference
See also:
PPM 147: Applications For Letters of Permission
Ontario Regulation made under the Education Act "Letter of Permission"
Letter of Permission: PowerPoint Presentation
Letter of Permission (LOP) Application Process - Comparison Chart
Questions and Answers
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19/06/2008
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Cheri Hayward, Director, School Business Support Branch
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2008 SB16: Proposed Green Clean Program
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18/06/2008
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Barry Pervin, Assistant Deputy Minister (A), Instructional and Leadership Development Division
Kit Rankin, Assistant Deputy Minister (A), French-Language Education and Educational Operations Division
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Calendar of Professional Learning Activities for 2008-09
See also:
Ministry's Reporting Calendar website
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18/06/2008
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Andrew Davis, Director, Transfer Payments and Financial Reporting
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2008 SB15: 2008-09 Estimates Forms - Isolate Boards
See also:
Estimates link
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18/06/2008
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Barry Finlay, Director, Special Education Policy and Programs Branch
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Compilation of Sample Individual Education Plans
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16/06/2008
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Paul Anthony, Director, Teaching Policy and Standards Branch
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June Update -Teacher Learning and Leadership Program (TLLP)
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16/06/2008
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Steve Marshall, Deputy Minister
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Healthy Schools – Trans Fat Standards Regulation
See also:
Ontario Regulation made under the Education Act Trans Fat Standards Regulation
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16/06/2008
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Kirsten Parker, Director, Student Success/Learning to 18 Implementation, Training & Evaluation Branch
Ginette Plourde, Director, French-Language Education Policy and Programs Branch
Don Young, Director, Information Management Branch
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Confirmation of Earned Credit Data - Final Step
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11/06/2008
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Barry Pervin, ADM (A), Instruction and Leadership Development Division
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Student Mental Health
See also:
Implementing A Shared Responsibility: Ontario's Policy Framework for Child and Youth Mental Health
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04/06/2008
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Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education
Brad Duguid, Minister of Labour
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Letter and information package from the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education, and the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Labour, regarding worker safety for students in Grades 7 to 12
See also:
Protecting Yourself Tip for ... Young Workers
Are You Ready For Work
Stay Safe When Working or Volunteering
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See
http://cal2.edu.gov.on.ca/june08.html
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Teachers! Access FREE Online professional learning webcasts
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Calendar of EVENTS
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Thursday, September 25, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. &
Friday, September 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Friday, September 26, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. &
Saturday, September 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut St, Toronto
Phone: 416.977.5000
OPSBA Room Rate: $169
Cut off Date: August 31
NORTHERN REGION DIRECTORS
Friday, September 26, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
2008 CONFERENCE OF THE NORTH
October 17—19, 2008
Travelodge Hotel Airlane
698 Arthur Street West, Thunder Bay
Tel: (807) 473-1600 or 1-800-465-5003
Fax: (807) 475-4852
OPSBA rate $85 + Taxes (single); $92 + Taxes (double)
Cut-off Date: Wednesday, September 17
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Friday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
2009 PUBLIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
January 29—31, 2009
Sheraton Centre Hotel
123 Queen St W, Toronto
Phone: 416.361.1000 or 1.888.627.7175
OPSBA Room Rate: $172 + taxes (single); $198 + taxes (double)
Cut off Date: January 9, 2009
2009 LABOUR RELATIONS SYMPOSIUM
March 26—28, 2009
Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto
123 Queen St W, Toronto
Phone: 416.361.1000 or 1.888.627.7175
OPSBA Room Rate: $182 + taxes (single or double)
Cut-off Date: February 22, 2009
21st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & PROGRAM 2009
Hosted by Central East Region
June 11—14
Deerhurst Resort and Conference Centre
1235 Deerhurst Drive, Huntsville
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If you have any comments about Fast Reports,
contact CARLA GARBAS, Editor
COLLEEN SCHENK, President • GAIL ANDERSON, Executive Director
OPSBA • 439 University Avenue, 18th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Y8
Tel: (416) 340-2540 Fax: (416) 340-7571
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