Heather Latter
While the percentage of local high school students who were successful on this year’s Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) declined by five percent from a year ago, the deferral rate—those postponing the test for another year—also decreased.
Secondary Curriculum co-ordinator Char Bliss informed trustees at last week’s Rainy River District School Board meeting that of the 238 Grade 10 students from Fort High, Rainy River High School, and Atikokan High School who wrote the test for the first time back in March, 75 percent met or exceeded the provincial standard on the yearly assessment while just two percent of students were deferred.
This is significantly lower than last year’s board deferral rate of six percent.
The provincial success rate was 82 percent, with a deferral rate of five percent.
Bliss explained a deferral will result in fewer opportunities to take the test, and that passing either the OSSLT or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) is a diploma requirement.
As such, the board would prefer as many students as possible to attempt the test.
The board saw a student participation rate of 93 percent, which is in line with that of their provincial counterparts.
“Although this year’s success rate has declined, the high first-time eligible participation rate is meaningful because it gives students more opportunities to write the test,” noted Director of Education Heather Campbell.
“Students who were not successful will have the chance to write it again the following year, with support from our dedicated staff.
“Each student is unique, and enters the classroom with his or her own skills and readiness to learn,” Campbell added.
“Our teachers and principals work diligently to tailor specific supports, resources, and programs designed to best meet the needs of each individual student to help him or her become successful in school,” she stressed.
The success rate for students enrolled in an Academic English course was 97 percent—the ninth-straight year with a success rate of 90 percent or more.
The provincial success rate was 93 percent.
The success rate for students enrolled in an Applied English course was 52 percent in 2012, down from 60 percent in 2011.
The provincial success rate was 53 percent for 2012, down from 55 percent in 2011.
The success rate for boys decreased from 70 percent in 2011 to 68 percent in 2012 while the success rate for girls fell from 87 percent in 2011 to 83 percent in 2012.
Bliss said the results indicate clearly that the board needs to focus its attention on areas where it sees the greatest challenge—and that is with students in the Applied level courses.
“This is an area identified locally and provincially, and will be the focus for improvement for the 2012-2013 school year,” she remarked.
The OSSLT provides a snapshot of students’ skills in reading, writing, and communicating according to the Ontario Curriculum Standards.
To be successful on the test, students must meet the provincial standard, which is measured as Level 3 on a four-point scale.
