HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-01-04, Page 20t
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News
High schools
debate return
to semestered
programming
Year-long, non-semestered pro-
gramming could cease to exist in
Avon Maitland District School Board
secondary facilities next fall, but
only if teachers and principals are
able to convince administrative staff
that Grade 9 and 10 math results
won't be negatively affected.
Early this decade, acting on the
argument that too much time passes
between courses in the same disci-
pline under semestered systems,
trustees decided the board's high
schools should revert to year-long
programming in all subject areas.
That decision was partially
reversed in 2003, in response to con-
cerns about the decreased class
length under year-long timetabling,
and the desire of some almost -grad-
uated students to complete one or
two credits in three months then
spend the rest of the year earning
tuition fees for college or university.
At the time, however, principals
were directed to retain year-long
Grade 9 and 10 classes in two key
disciplines: math andeEnglish.
Now, according to a report deliv-
ered to trustees Tuesday, Dec. 13,
administration will allow principals
to revert to semesters in those areas
as well.
"In 2003, the EQAO (Education
Quality and Accountability Office,
an arms -length government agency
which administers standardized
tests to .Ontario students) reported
no statistically significant differ-
ences in achievement between
schools with year long programs and
hose with semestered programs,"
states a report provided at a Dec. 13
regular board meeting.
Education director Geoff Williams
says the board is reluctant to tam-
per with a formula under which
Avon Maitland students have consis-
tently recorded well above provincial
average success rates in the EQAO's
Grade 9 math tests.
If principals wish to convert Grade
9 and 10 math to semesters, they
"will be asked to submit a proposal,"
including "address(ing) how they
will continue to ensure very high
levels of success for their students,
and how they will monitor and
assess the impact of the changes on
student achievement."
The conversion of Grade 9 and 10
English to semesters will be allowed
without any strings attached.
The catch is that, if Grade 9 and
10 math are not converted to semes-
ters, then other Grade 9 and 10
courses will also have to remain in a
year-long format.
•
The Huron Expositor • January 4, 2006 Page 20
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