Provincial and Electronic Reporting (your N.S. tax dollars at work…2002 to present)

Provincial and Electronic Reporting(your N.S. tax dollars at work…2002 to present)

Provincial and Electronic Reporting • The N.S. Department of Education (DOE) recognizes the need for standardized reporting within the province. • Partnered with standardized reporting is the Student Information System (SIS) that allows all schools in the province to access important student information. • The Department of Education has not officially implemented a provincial reporting and SIS yet.

AVRSB • The AVRSB began piloting a reporting and SIS system called “Outcomes” four years ago based on what the Department of Education had started. When the DOE finds an acceptable SIS, changes may occur within the present electronic reporting and SIS. • Currently the AVRSB is initiating the “Outcomes” reporting and SIS program in seven more schools because schools were ready to move forward with this initiative. • The board is supporting these schools with professional development dealing with the technology and changes in assessment practices and reporting. • It is hoped that eventually all schools in Nova Scotia will be using the same reporting and SIS.

FEEDBACK TO DATE(from Sue LeBel – Coordinator of Programs, AVRSB) • In speaking with parents and teachers within the province, initial feedback has been positive. • The change for teachers has been smoother than expected. • As a result, some schools in the province have gone ahead and implemented it on their own. • Unfortunately, the DOE is still looking for a suitable SIS for the whole province.

Provincial Report Card Activity • Group Activity – 10 – 15 minutes • Divide into groups of 5 • Examine the Provincial Report Cards and determine what differences occur between the levels (Primary, 1 - 3, 4 - 6, 7 - 8, and 9) • Look at the rubric for letter grades A, B, C, and D. What significant similarities are there between all? What are the significant differences? • Reflect and comment together as a whole group

Successes • Reporting should be more tied to curriculum outcomes • Access through the Internet from anywhere worldwide • Provincial standardization of reporting and format to families and students • Banks of comments • Synchronization and easy transfer of all student information • Improves efficiency for teachers and administrative staff

Concerns, Problems and Issues • Letter grades – A, B, C, D - Public perception of what these letter grades represent can be confusing. • Assessment practices and reporting may need to change to support the use of letter grades as they relate to student achievement with the curriculum outcomes. • Existing technology in schools and at teachers’ homes needs to support the new system (high-speed versus dial-up Internet access)? • Resource teacher input - How? • Homeroom and subject teachers can’t view what other teachers have reported. • Security – Internet based so is accessible from anywhere with a user name and password. • Initial setup is time-consuming for administrative staff

Provincial and Electronic Reporting (your N.S. tax dollars at work…2002 to present)