Answers to September ASAC Questions
ASAC brought some questions to the Steering Committee meeting on September 9th, but they were cut short by the chair Jennifer Adams, even though the meeting ended 25 minutes early. She did invite ASAC to send her the questions. Recently she relied to the questions, and here are her responses.
| Question | Response | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are staff going to visit the schools? | As I mentioned at the meeting, the literature review will include a description of other boards' alternative programs. The boards will not be contacted as we are not reviewing other alternative programs in the province; only the OCDSB alternative programs. |
| 2 | What value do other school boards generate from the program? Has Toronto or Hamilton been contacted? |
As I mentioned at the meeting, the literature review will include a description of other boards' alternative programs. The boards will not be contacted as we are not reviewing other alternative programs in the province; only the OCDSB alternative programs. |
| 3 | How do other boards deal with Ministry regulations around curriculum, testing and report cards? | All publicly funded schools in Ontario must follow the Ontario curriculum, must adhere to the use of the provincial report card, and must participate in provincial assessments (with the exception of parents who ask for exemption for their child). |
| 4 |
How is quality to be assessed in a program? What research studies will be referenced? |
Program quality will not be assessed. As I stated before, school evaluations are the responsibility of the school superintendent. They fall outside the parameters of this review. The scope of the review and how it will be conducted is outlined in the report to Education Committee presented in June. |
| 5 | What is the long-term goal of the board in respect to program
offering?
o Cost effectiveness?
o Market share?
o Student outcome?
o Parental wishes?
How are these measured? How does the program fit into the board's overall vision?
|
The purpose of the review is to establish a Board decision regarding the future of elementary alternative programs in the OCDSB. The trustees will make these decisions in January 2010. |
| 6 | Can all student learning styles be accommodated in the same program? What is gained and what is lost? | All elementary and secondary schools in the OCDSB are expected to meet the needs of all learners regardless of the program type (e.g. regular English, Early French Immersion, Middle French Immersion, alternative, etc.). The surveys may provide us with some perceptual data on this topic. |
| 7 | From (ii) of the Review Goals: What are the "planned improvements to the regular programs"? | These will emerge from the review (through the lit review, document review, survey information, etc.) |