Rocky View Schools (RVS) will participate in a pilot program for a new testing initiative this fall, but it’s one that has some local educators concerned.
Student Learning Assessments (SLAs) are eventually set to replace Provincial Assessment Tests (PATs) in Alberta Education, but according to Rocky View ATA 35 president and Bearspaw School teacher Michelle Glavine, the move could negatively affect students in RVS.
“Our current government, and (Alberta Education Minister) David Eggen recognized there might be some potential issues and decided to make the pilot optional,” she said. “They (are) going to take some time to study. I’m hoping that the government finds that the problems are significant enough to get rid of them.
“It’s disappointing that our school division has decided to go ahead with the pilot.”
As reported in the Sept. 22 edition of the Rocky View Weekly, Grade 3 students in RVS are the first in the division to participate in the pilot, with an eye on eventual implementation with Grade 6 and 9 students.
Two computer-based tests, focused on literacy and numeracy, are completed by Grade 3 students at the beginning of the year. Former education minister Jeff Johnson cited a desire to identify students needs at the beginning of the year as the reason to shift from the PATs to the SLAs.
“We haven’t seen the results from these, but with any shift it’s to try to get what you would refer to as a formative assessment, and that’s designed to improve (education),” said RVS Associate Superintendent of Learning Dave Morris.
RVS began preparing Grade 2 students in the division in anticipation of the tests. Glavine cited the time required to complete the tests as well as pressures on students as they start a new school year as among concerns she had with SLAs.
“(Getting rid) of the PATs, that would be something that I would support. A lot of this (type of) testing is not authentic assessment and I think that we have better ways of doing that assessment and building that relationship,” she said. “The SLAs are much worse, but I’m not saying I’d like to go back.
“I really think that teachers know where their students are. I know where my students are working, I don’t need a five-hour government test to tell me where my students are. I’d rather take that time – just testing isn’t helping them learn.”
RVS will provide additional money for teachers to mark SLAs beyond allotments from Alberta Education.
“(SLAs are) mandated by the province,” RVS Director of Communications Angela Spanier said. “(Parents) should feel confident that these assessments are giving our teachers information.
“At the end of the day, it benefits their child.”
Construction on three new schools set to open in 2016 in Airdrie and Cochrane will continue as planned despite a major delay on school construction projects in Alberta.
More than 100 school projects across Alberta are behind schedule, according to Education Minister David Eggen. RancheView School in Cochrane, as well as Cooper’s Crossing and H. Lorimer Schools in Airdrie, are notable exemptions on the list.
According to Rocky View Schools (RVS) Manager of School Facilities Peter Garner, the division was confident their projects would remain on schedule.
“It’s because the planning department had good previous experience with building schools. We had good consultants to work with,” he said.
Eggen said a request has been made to Auditor General Merwan Saher to investigate the “substantial lag in funding related to the previous government’s announcements to build new schools and modernize existing schools.”
“As the new minister responsible, and as a parents, I’m extremely disappointed to learn that many of the schools our province desperately needs will not open on time,” he said during a press conference held Oct. 6. “Alberta families have been waiting for these schools for a long time and they deserve a reason for the delays and assurance that this won’t happen again.”
As part of RVS’ 2016 to 2019 capital plan, the division requested 11 new facilities and four major building additions to meet continuing student growth.
“(New projects) are on track. We’re in the design stage with our consultants,” Garner said. “They anticipate the schedule will come out as promised.”
The new schools in Airdrie and Cochrane are set to open in September 2016.
