WHAT'S NEW - JULY 2005

INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING

Welcome to the web site for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the web site changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, and parents who are exploring initiatives to improve student learning. The section below identifies several web links related to the topic. We hope that you find this web site to be a valuable resource. For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEB SITES RELATED TO INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING

Action Plan to Improve Student Learning. 2002
Nova Scotia Department of Education
Halifax, NS
http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20020322002

This news release from Nova Scotia identifies an action plan aimed at the improvement of student learning. Math and language arts are the two major areas of focus in this initiative. The efforts at improvement are aimed at helping students achieve better results in their test scores in provincial, national, and international examinations. The action plan also provides help for students who experience difficulties in attaining literacy. Parental involvement is another recognized component of this initiative. In general terms, the action plan is aimed at assisting students to achieve their personal best in their studies.

The Alberta Initiative for School Improvement
Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education (SAEE)
Education Analyst, Winter 2004
Wosnack, N.
Kelowna, BC
http://www.saee.ca/analyst/C_020.1_III_LON.php

The Alberta Initiative for School Improvement can be characterized as a large-scale school improvement initiative that is designed to change student achievement for the better. This online article prepared for SAEE presents the 11 principal features of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement. Of highest importance is the emphasis on enhancing student learning and on continuous improvement. Professional development for teachers is viewed as another contributing factor in this initiative. Annual reports indicate that the hundreds of projects undertaken beneath the umbrella of this initiative are having the desired results. The article provides references for further study.

Alberta Initiative For School Improvement (AISI) Projects
© 2005 Edmonton Catholic School District
Edmonton, AB
http://www.ecsd.net/programs/aisi.html

What are some examples of the many projects carried out under the banner of AISI? The Edmonton Catholic School District offers an online description of many of the AISI projects that it has undertaken. The account offered here mentions nine major areas. The AISI projects range from improvements in the areas of secondary mathematics and science to improvements in English as a Second Language (ESL) as well as developments in technology integration and early language literacy, for example. Opportunities for teacher professional development, parental involvement, and reliance on sound research are frequent features of these AISI projects. This school jurisdiction is taking part in the second cycle (2003-2006) of the AISI enterprise.

Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI)
© 2005 Government of Alberta
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/special/aisi/

This web site concisely traces the history and recent developments of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI). This province-wide initiative began in 2000. Now in its second three-year cycle, the initiative involves collaboration with several education partners. The several hundred projects carried out under this initiative are aimed at improving student achievement in a variety of approaches. Each school jurisdiction carries out unique projects. Results from the first three years indicate that the initiative has changed the educational culture across the province in a number of identifiable ways, all of which center on improving student success. For more information, see also the news release of January 2004 at http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/news/2004/January/nr-AISIConference.asp.

AISI & Assessment for Parkland School District. 2004
University of Alberta AISI Web Site
Edmonton, AB
http://www.quasar.ualberta.ca/AISI/UofA_AISI/

What are examples of university involvement in student improvement initiatives? Hosted at the University of Alberta, this web site illustrates the partnership dimension of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI). This web site features the involvement of Parkland School District in the second cycle of AISI projects along with a report of Fort McMurray Teacher's Institute in October 2004. The web site also identifies a three-person university team dedicated to supporting AISI projects in various school districts throughout the province. Moreover, AISI is attracting international recognition as a large-scale school improvement project.

Building the Ontario Education Advantage: Student Achievement
Ontario Ministry of Education
© 2005 Queen's Printer for Ontario
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/partnership/building.html

This mini-discussion paper from Ontario, released in 2004, illustrates recent efforts to redirect the education system in that province. The point of departure is an attractive vision for student success. It is an optimistic vision assuming that many students have the capabilities to learn. The educational goal is holistic - a well-rounded individual- but this goal requires a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy. The importance of achievement tests for assessing student learning is acknowledged along with the strong influence of social factors upon student success. This initiative is presented as an exercise in public policy undertaken to restore confidence in public education.

Chinook's Edge Honored for Improving Student Learning. 2004
Chinook's Edge School Division
Innisfail, AB
http://www.chinooksedge.ab.ca/media/SAEE.pdf

This media release from Chinook's Edge School Division, dated January, 2004, celebrates the success of student improvement efforts. This school division was recently recognized as one of the province's top four school jurisdictions in terms of students' results. The division's efforts have been directed to continuous improvement in student learning. What is important is that the school jurisdiction as a whole shared in the improvement efforts. Interviews with division personnel point to a set of identifiable factors that are related to student success. This media release also contains useful contact information.

Investments to Reduce Dropout Rate, Create New Opportunities for All Students
Ontario Ministry of Education
© 2005 Queen's Printer for Ontario
http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2005/05/17/c0443.html

Ontario is making efforts aimed at student success. This news release highlights some projects undertaken to improve the success of high school students in Ontario. The reduction of high school dropout rates is a primary objective of this improvement initiative. The efforts are comprehensive and will benefit students who plan to enter the workforce or take apprenticeship studies as well as those students who are intending to attend university. Test score results indicate that earlier improvement initiatives have been successful. This initiative is planned for 2005-2006 and is in part oriented to providing high school students with skills required for the workplace.

Manitoba School Improvement Program Inc.
© 2005 Manitoba School Improvement Program Inc.
Winnipeg, MB
http://www.msip.ca/1_about/1_about.html

In Manitoba, a major school improvement initiative goes by the name of the Manitoba School Improvement Program (MSIP) Inc. This web page is a point of departure for finding out about the project. The MSIP is a voluntary network of over 50 schools. The MSIP focuses particularly on secondary school students and on students at risk. Involving the community and working with partners are other aspects of the MSIP. The web site provides some indications of the success of this initiative in the form of a 2003 annual report. A related newsletter entitled MSIP Moves Forward is available at http://www.msip.ca/1_about/news/focus.pdf.

Proposed Provincial School Improvement Planning Model
© 2005 The Prince Edward Island Task Force on Student Achievement
Prince Edward Island Department of Education
http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/Draft_SIP_Repor.pdf

This draft document provides an overview of recent plans of the Prince Edward Island Task Force on Student Achievement. The initiative is named the School Improvement Planning (SIP) model. The efforts described in this document represent a consolidation of previous efforts at school improvement previously undertaken by the province's school jurisdictions. The rationale for the SIP model is to be found in the expectation that the public education system would benefit from a provincial focus on school improvement planning. Twin main objectives for the initiative are improved student success and increased public accountability for public education.

SchoolPLUS Progress: Community Engagement
Winter 2004
Saskatchewan Learning
Regina, SK
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/branches/cap_building_acct/school_plus/pdf/ progwinter2004.pdf

In Saskatchewan, school improvement takes the form of the SchoolPLUS model, which is planned to extend over the period 2004-2009. This edition of the related newsletter introduces the initiative with an emphasis on community engagement. The SchoolPLUS approach to student improvement highlights many aspects of community involvement that touch on the success of students, especially the teacher and the community. This effort is linked to a virtual school initiative for which a web site was recently launched. Projects promoting "a safe and caring school environment" and "peer support" are other aspects of this initiative. More information on SchoolPLUS is available at http://www.schoolplus.gov.sk.ca/pe/main/about.

What is the Network of Performance Based Schools?
©2004 Network of Performance Based Schools
Vancouver, BC
http://www.npbs.ca/

This web site offers a window on school improvement in British Columbia by introducing the Network of Performance Based Schools. The network characterizes itself as "schools learning through inquiry and teamwork." The network presents itself as an action research community, "designed to improve student learning and to strengthen public education." This network is a voluntary community of teachers and principals working toward school improvement goals that are changed annually. The web site also contains links to related success stories, network schools, newsletters, and to a variety of other network resources.