Prairie South School Division’s administration has changed how it analyzes reading, writing and math data by moving away from year-to-year comparisons and toward following the same group of students from grade to grade.
The division office was unable to accurately analyze the “longitudinal data” from year to year, nor could it compare the growth for the same cohort of students, Amanda Olson, superintendent of learning, explained during the recent board meeting.
For example, last year, 69.9 per cent of Grade 1 students were reading at or above grade level compared to 68.8 per cent of students the previous year. While there was a slight year-over-year increase for that grade, she pointed out that those were not the same students.
The division does not have comparative data about reading levels from kindergarten for last year’s Grade 1s since they would have focused on building literacy skills when they entered school.
“Although we’re not talking about the same cohort of children, it is great to see that some growth in Grade 1 reading levels has occurred from 2020 to 2021 to 2022 school years,” Olson said.
Meanwhile, for Grade 2s, last year, 72.4 per cent were at or above reading level, compared to 68.8 per cent in Grade 1 in 2022, the data showed. This translated into growth of 3.6 per cent.
Furthermore, for last year’s Grade 3s, 75.7 per cent were at or above reading level, compared to 72.2 per cent when they were in Grade 2 in 2022 and 69.9 per cent when they were in Grade 1 in 2021.
Olson noted that last year’s Grade 3 levels grew by 3.5 per cent year-over-year and by 7.8 per cent over two years. While the division does not collect reading data for Grade 4, the schools will continue that function.
Writing data
While writing data — collected several times a year in grades 4, 7 and 9 — “ebb and flow” yearly, the division has kept the percentage of Grade 4 students writing significantly below grade level around 7.3 per cent, while 92.7 per cent are reading slightly below, at, or above grade level, said Olson.
“Students who are writing slightly below grade level, they’re still decent writers. We would (just) like to see them writing at grade level … ,” she stated.
Students’ writings usually make sense, while they can communicate their ideas relatively clearly, the learning superintendent said. To improve, they may have to add variety to sentences, enhance word variations, correct spelling mistakes or add details.
The data for last year show that roughly 94.5 per cent of Grade 9s were just below, at, or above grade level for writing, compared to when they were in Grade 7 in 2021 and roughly 96.9 per cent were just below, at, or above grade level.
Meanwhile, data show that roughly 94.1 per cent of Grade 7s were just below, at, or above grade level for writing last year. However, there was no data from Grade 4 since the pandemic wiped out the 2019-20 year.
Olson noted that students must attend class regularly so they can receive instruction from their teachers, even if they come with strong existing skills.
Math data
Last year, 92.5 per cent of Grade 8s were just below, at, or above grade level for math. However, there was no comparative data from Grade 5 because the pandemic erased the 2019-20 year.
In Grade 5 last year, 90.1 per cent were just below, at, or above grade level. Again, there was no data from Grade 2 because of the pandemic.
Also, for Grade 2s last year, 90.9 per cent were just below, at, or above level.
Students slightly below grade level are still developing the ability to use math strategies, demonstrate accuracy and flexibility when solving problems, justify their thinking and use logical connections, added Olson.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
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