Provincial student assessment results now available to parents and the public

The 2019 provincial student assessment results are going home to parents this week and are now available to the public on the government website.

The provincial assessments are undertaken annually and used by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning to assess overall system performance related to instruction and curriculum.  The assessment results are the main instrument used by schools to set school goals each year in mathematics and literacy.

“Provincial assessments are important to help us understand how students are achieving and our education system is performing as a whole. They provide direction to make improvements to curriculum, instruction and professional learning.”

- Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Brad Trivers

The assessments are written in May and June at the end of grades 3, 6 and 9, and in January by Grade 11 students. The results are shared with students, parents and educators each fall.

This year, significant increases were seen in primary math, elementary reading and Math 521K (workplace math) results, while declines were seen in primary reading and elementary math.

For the first time, cohort data is being made available this year on the performance of the same groups of students over several years, for example, students in grades 3 and 6 reading, and students in grades 3, 6 and 9 math.

The 2019 results are available at Provincial Assessment Results. 

Media contact:

Jean Doherty

Department of Education and Lifelong Learning

902 314 5702

jmdoherty@gov.pe.ca

 

Provincial Assessments Results 2019

Provincial assessments are conducted each year to measure how well students are meeting expectations set out in the provincial curriculum. Students write provincial assessments at the end of grades 3, 6, 9 and 11.

The assessments take place in May and June, as well as January at the high school level. Teachers work with the department to develop and score the assessments based on the curriculum. The results are shared with students, parents and educators in the fall. The results shape education policy, programs and system change.

Response to the assessments 

Provincial assessments provide important information on how a child is doing in relation to provincial standards. The results are used by the department to inform new initiatives such as professional learning opportunities for teachers to better support student achievement. The department uses two professional learning days during the school year for this purpose.

Schools set math and literacy goals each year to enhance the learning culture in their schools. Each school is required to have an achievement goal in mathematics and literacy to help them continuously improve. They can choose between a reading or writing literacy goal, depending on their students’ needs.

Professional development is coordinated by department staff who collaborate with teachers and schools to tailor programs to meet their learning needs.

Primary

• Grades 1 to 3 teachers identify gaps in math learning using various strategies, including assessment results, and they address them with the assistance of coaching support and professional development. 
• In reading comprehension, professional learning is being provided to all teachers using the highly effective workshop model. Kindergarten classes have received books to support students’ early reading skills.
• In Grade 3 French Immersion, instructional coaches have analyzed the common errors students were making in reading comprehension and they will be working with Grade 4 teachers this year to help students provide stronger responses in their writing.  Grades 1-3 students will also benefit from new French Immersion language arts curriculum this year which has clear learning outcomes and a stronger focus on oral language as well as reading and writing. French Immersion teachers will participate in at least four PD days on how to deliver the new curriculum.
• Students in grades 1 to 3 have new resources and are receiving more support with their writing through a three-year primary writing initiative.  Teachers are receiving in-class training on how to work with small groups of students who have similar learning needs. 

Elementary 

• In Grade 5 mathematics, teachers are using assessment results and evidence-based strategies to provide timely, responsive instruction to children. By identifying learning gaps early, and targeting their instruction to address them, teachers help many young children catch up to their peers.
• New Language Arts curriculum is being piloted in grades 5 and 6 to support reading comprehension. The new curriculum will have clear outcomes and a strong focus on helping students transfer language arts concepts and processes to other subject areas. 
• Grades 5 and 6 students are also benefitting from the new Language Arts curriculum through new teaching and learning materials that support student writing in grades 4-6.

Intermediate Math

One of the most effective ways to help students is to increase the knowledge and skills of their teachers through PD and coaching support. Intermediate teachers are receiving in-class support from coaches to identify learning gaps and provide timely, responsive instruction to students. Several schools have extended the length of the math lesson to 60 minutes. Two professional learning days are available for teachers to continue their work on aligning instructional strategies to the specific needs of their students.

Secondary Math

Teachers and math coaches analyze and use the Grade 11 math results to target specific areas where students have struggled, and develop PD programs to improve instruction and help students improve.

Exemption rates

Some students may be exempted from the provincial assessments because of special educational or health needs, or because they have not yet acquired sufficient language proficiency. Exemption rates were down this year for each assessment. The exemption rate in 2019 for Primary Literacy (English) was 10%, down from 14%; Primary Literacy (French Immersion) was 1%, down from 2%; Elementary Literacy (English) was 8%, down from 11%; Primary Math was 7%, down from 8%; Elementary Math was 8%, down  from 10%; Intermediate Math was 6%, down from 8%.