The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Grade 3/6 testing indicates IT.LRE»TN'TERFI local schools are meeting o 5 the provincial average | mMon‘th I f the province was handâ€" Iing out report cards to local schools boards after the release of the latest round of Grade 3 and 6 testâ€" ing, it might read â€" met class average but more improvement needed. And despite meeting the provincial average in readâ€" ing, writing and math in provincewide testing done last April, both boards stressed that continuous improvement is their shared goal as they interpret these test results from year to vear. At the Waterloo Catholic District school board, all numbers are up from last year, most significantly in the area of math testing, where the board saw a spike in both their Grade 3 and Grade 6 test results. More than 60 per cent of the board‘s Grade 3 students met provincial standards for mathematics, while more than 62 per cent of Grade 6 students made the grade. The provincial average for Grade 3 students was 61 per cent, while the average for Grade 6 students was 54 per cent. More importantly, the board was able to judge that there was a significant improvement in the Grade 6 students‘ standing in all testâ€" ing areas from the first time they took the test as Grade 3 students. "The increase over those years is significant," said Michael Schmitt, superinâ€" tendent of program services and student services at the By Bos VRrBANAC Chronicle Staff separate board. "The readâ€" ing scores for that same group of children have gone up 12 per cent." Writing scores over that same time span have gone up six per cent, while math scores have gone up 12 per cent. "I think what they‘re showing is that we‘re moving in the right direction," said Schmitt about the threeâ€"year improvement in test scores. "That‘s a good thing." In terms of the yearâ€"toâ€" year results, Schmitt also said the board has seen some modest improvement, meeting provincial averages after failing to do so last year. "Our scores have increased over last year, and it seems from early indicaâ€" tions that we seem to be right at the provincial averâ€" age," he said. from early indications that we seem to be right at the provincial average." By the end of the month, the local board hopes to have a schoolâ€"byâ€"school breakdown giving the board a better picture of what schools are doing well and what schools are having difâ€" ficulty. "Our scores have increased over last year, and it seems At the public board, a â€" Michael Schmitt separate school board similar longitudinal analysis hasn‘t been completed vet, but the yearâ€"toâ€"year scores are up from last year, said Kelly Lantink, a research and assessment consultant with the board. "Our results have been going up since testing has occurred," said Lantink. "If vou look for trends in the data, our results have gone up since testing began. The board is currently analyzing the last test results to see where they can focus efforts and what areas need resources and professional development. "But certainly we‘re not satisfied with being at 50 per cent reading for Grade 3 at level three and four." "We‘re looking at how to improve the scores so that we can get even more of our kids to the standard and above," said Lantink. The most significant area of increase over last year came in the area of reading. The public board was below the provincial average last year, but climbed up six points this year to match that average. Lantink said some of the improvement in this year‘s Grade 6 testing scores was due to a familiarity with the testing process, which gave students more of a comfort level when doing the timed tests. Other things the local board is doing to improve test scores is maintaining its focus on early literacy. "What we‘re looking at is continuous improvement," said Lantink "We want to raise the reading, writing and math achievement of all students as measured by this test. "We‘re looking at closing the gap between the stuâ€" dents achieving at the lower end with students at the higher end, while recognizâ€" ing that everybody can improve." Schmitt said that continâ€" uous improvement process hinges on contributions from parents and local school councils. Teachers are just partners with parâ€" ents in their children‘s eduâ€" cation. "I really encourage them to carve out some time every evening to read with their children," said Schmitt. "I think if every parent did that, we could see some sigâ€" nificant increases." FAYWR‘3S TURTLES | 116. bay CANDY I 6. bag COOKIES 20 is | Gateway| | 579 4562 ] 3131 Kinc Streer East, KiTcH ENER 519 748â€"9666 ww w.heffnerlexustoyota.com The Official Wateriooâ€"Wellington County Lexus Dealer <H L= o able one year in advance The small print e Pavatle Ine year in 20y _ www.gateâ€"way.net Mon. Tues. Wed. 9â€"6; Thurs. & Fri. 9â€"3; Sat. 8â€"6. Sun. 11â€"5 BOâ€"DE FOODS INC. PURIFIED WATER 105. 551 Parkside Dr. Waterloo 747â€"5524 e m m Mon. & Tues. With $5.00 Purchase Serving up the intemet Since 1995 .5795'5995 5t incobs Farvers Marat 51 99 $ 44 00