School Board Progress Reports


The Indicators

Eight indicators have been selected to provide information about each board's progress. The selected indicators represent some of the government's education priorities including class size in the primary grades and improved literacy rates.

Grade 6 Reading EQAO Results

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) annually assesses the reading, writing and math skills of Ontario’s Grade 6 students. EQAO is an arm's-length agency of the provincial government and provides parents, teachers and the public with accurate and reliable information about student achievement.

In 2008-09, 69 per cent of English-language students and 77 per cent of French-language students met or exceeded the provincial standard (Level 3 on the scale of 1 to 4, or grade level B) on the EQAO Grade 6 reading assessment.

Ontario's target is for 75 per cent of students to be meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in reading, writing and mathematics

Progress in Grade 6 Reading EQAO Results

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) annually assesses the reading, writing and math skills of Ontario’s Grade 6 students. EQAO is an arm's-length agency of the provincial government and provides parents, teachers and the public with accurate and reliable information about student achievement.

Between 2002-03 and 2008-09, EQAO reported that there was a 13 percentage point increase for English-language students and a 19 percentage point increase for French-language students who met or exceeded the provincial standard (Level 3 on the scale of 1 to 4, or grade level B) in the Grade 6 reading assessments.

Ontario's target is for 75 per cent of students to be meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in reading, writing and mathematics.

Grade 10 Literacy Test

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) annually assesses the literacy skills of Ontario’s Grade 10 students through the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. EQAO is an arm’s-length agency of the provincial government and provides parents, teachers and the public with accurate and reliable information about student achievement.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test assesses reading and writing skills that students are expected to have learned in all subjects by the end of Grade 9. Students have the opportunity to rewrite the test if they fail; however, they must pass the test or enrol in and pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course to obtain the graduation literacy requirement.

In 2008-09, the percentage of Grade 10 students who were eligible to write the test for the first time and who fully participated in and passed the literacy test was 85 per cent for English-language students and 84 per cent for French-language students.

Progress in Grade 10 Literacy Test

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) annually assesses the literacy skills of Ontario’s Grade 10 students through the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. EQAO is an arm’s-length agency of the provincial government and provides parents, teachers and the public with accurate and reliable information about student achievement.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test assesses reading and writing skills that students are expected to have learned in all subjects by the end of Grade 9. Students have the opportunity to rewrite the test if they fail; however, they must pass the test or enrol in and pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course to obtain the graduation literacy requirement.

For Grade 10 students who were eligible to write the test for the first time and who fully participated in and passed the literacy test, the change from 2002-03 and 2008-09 was 13 percentage points for English-language students and five percentage points for French-language students.

Credit Accumulation by the End of Grade 10

Credits are counted if they are part of the student’s transcript at the end of June. Courses taken at summer school or concluding after June 30 are counted for the following year. Students learning English as a second language or with special needs are included.

Ontario students who have 16 or more credits at the end of Grade 10 are on track to graduate with their peers.

At the end of the 2007-08 school year, 68 per cent of Grade 10 students had 16 or more credits.

Progress in Credit Accumulation by the End of Grade 10

Credits are counted if they are part of the student’s transcript at the end of June. Courses taken at summer school or concluding after June 30 are counted for the following year. Students learning English as a second language or with special needs are included.

Ontario students who have 16 or more credits at the end of Grade 10 are on track to graduate with their peers.

At the end of the 2007-08 school year, 68 per cent of Grade 10 students had 16 or more credits. This is an increase of one percentage point compared to the end of June 2006-07.

Primary Grade Classes with 20 or Fewer Students

The ministry’s goal is for each primary class to have no more than 23 students. In addition, 90 per cent of these classes will have 20 students or fewer.

Ten per cent of classes can have up to 23 students. This flexibility helps boards make classes smaller, while allowing for enrolment changes, minimizing the need for more combined grades and avoiding unnecessary transportation of students.

In 2008-09, all of primary classes had 23 students or fewer and 90.3 per cent had 20 or fewer. Primary classes with 25 or more students have been eliminated.

Progress in Primary Grade Classes with 20 or Fewer Students

The ministry’s goal is for each primary class to have no more than 23 students. In addition, 90 per cent of these classes will have 20 students or fewer.

Ten per cent of classes can have up to 23 students. This flexibility helps boards make classes smaller, while allowing for enrolment changes, minimizing the need for more combined grades and avoiding unnecessary transportation of students.

Between 2003-04 and 2008-09, there was a 59 percentage point increase in the number of primary classes in Ontario that had 20 students or fewer.