The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Saskatchewan government is launching a new initiative designed to improve student achievement so all students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 receive consistent feedback on their progress. It will also identify and provide the assistance each student requires in the classroom. '...as a system we know we can do better for our students,' said Education Minister Donna Harpauer. 'We see our scores in international and national testing falling below the Canadian average. We want to ensure that when Saskatchewan students apply for jobs or post-secondary institutions anywhere in Canada or around the world, those applications rise to the top because of our academic reputation.' Saskatchewan is the last province in Canada to have a province-wide approach to student assessment. This approach has proven to be successful in other jurisdictions. Research indicates that regular, individual assessments, combined with the appropriate instructional supports, have the greatest impact on student success. Overlap Currently the overlap of assessment practices from school division to school division leaves students and parents without consistent, practical and predictable information on a student's achievement. The new approach to student achievement will ensure the results of students' assessments are shared with students and parents, which did not happen in the past. In addition to the assessment information, the appropriate instructional supports will also be put in place so everyone can work together to help students be successful. The new plan for student achievement is also meant to benefit teachers and parents. It will provide teachers with constructive information that will inform them of the appropriate resources they can access to help students. They will also benefit from a reduction in the overlap of assessments that is currently taking place. The new approach will provide parents with a broader perspective on how their child is doing. An advisory committee comprised of key stakeholders will provide advice and guidance to the Ministry of Education on the implementation of the student achievement strategy. The advisory committee will include representatives from the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials, among others. The ministry will also involve parents and teachers as the student achievement initiative moves forward. _ Compiled from a Government of Saskatchewan news release
