Local public schools rank well below provincial academic average
By Tim Kalinowski on October 27, 2017.
tkalinowski@medicinehatnews.com @MHNTimKal Medicine Hat’s public schools rank significantly below the provincial average in most academic measures, according to the province’s accountability pillars. The pillars rate school divisions’ success yearly based on a number of factors. These details were included in a report tabled by SD76 assistant superintendent Corey Sadlemeyer at the public meeting on Oct. 24. They paint a startling picture. While Medicine Hat public schools are ranked ‘high’ to ‘very high’ in such measures like dropout rate, safe and caring environment, program options for students, parental involvement and good citizenship, they rank ‘low’ on academic scores like PAT excellence, diploma acceptable (average) and diploma exam participation. Two areas identified as having “declined significantly” and of “concern” are PAT acceptable and diploma exam participation in this regard. Corey Sadlemeyer says the division is definitely concerned about the results, but stresses these results were recorded in the 2016/17 school year, and do not reflect the measures, staffing changes and new strategies which implemented to start the 2017/18 year. “What we have spent the last year doing is studying what successful (public school divisions) have done with a range of students in their classrooms, and we are asking the question: How have they managed to be more successful on these (accountability pillar) measures than we have? “We have learned some things which have fundamentally impacted how we’ve organized our schools this, which are not included in these current results. We are going to see some different results next year because of that.” Having said that, Sadlemeyer says the school division is not making any excuses and is looking to take action. “I think we have done a few key things to respond to this,” he says. “One is, for the first time in our system, we are going back to our schools and saying, ‘What is going to be our action plan for responding to these results?’ “Not in a way which would say let’s teach to the test, but in a way which says what are going to be your lead indicators throughout the year to make sure our kids are on track. Related to that, our system is moving to something that we are calling the collaborative response model. Where in the past we may have focused in on individual kids who are struggling and tried to support them, which is a great thing to do, but sometimes that comes at the expense of looking at instruction in practice for all kids. “What we are now challenging our system to do is not just prop up people into the acceptable category, but to see what can we do to help all of our kids move forward into the system, and make a difference at that excellence and acceptable level.” Sadlemeyer says one result on the accountability pillars is extremely encouraging in this regard. SD76 ranks very high, and is among the best in the province in continuous improvement. Sadlemeyer says nothing can be done about past results but it is important to chart a strong course toward the future. “What we want to see in our collaborative response model is let’s make sure every student is getting the proper attention,” he says. “Whether that is the kid who is performing two years behind or whether it’s the kid performing a year ahead, what are we going to do ensure everybody’s progressing? “That’s a challenge for both our staff and our principals right now.” 16
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