PRESIDENT'S JOURNAL

School Information Finder Creates Discussion

The School Information Finder (SIF) launched on the ministry website last week certainly garnered some attention.

Last week the entry from the President’s Journal explained the SIF and outlined CPCO’s position. As expected, the creation of the School Information Finder was challenged at the Partnership Table meeting on Monday by all stakeholders. Representatives from parent associations, student organizations, teacher unions, principals’ associations, supervisory officers’ associations, trustees’ associations, faculties of education, the Ontario College of Teachers and others were united in opposing the profiling of schools based on the limited data presented on the SIF site, and the lack of consultation surrounding its creation. The Minister listened to person after person speak passionately about the issue. Some areas of concern were:

• the limitations of only using EQAO data to compare schools, and the lack of provision for other meaningful contextual variables,
• the undue pressure placed on teachers and principals in underperforming schools,
• the dangers of social polarization when sharing demographic information regarding low income families and the percentage of university-educated parents in the community,
• the percentage of gifted students was reported separately from the total percentage of students with special needs,
• the use of a school bag which appears to promote school shopping,
• the implication that parents can use this information to choose schools, and
• that achievement data is viewed as the only way to measure school success.

Stakeholders called for immediate dismantling of the site and asked for the kind of consultation that the current ministry has been known to solicit in the past. The minister assured the audience that there is “no sinister agenda to rank schools”. She promised to consider removing the school bag to compare schools and remove the data for those schools with under 50 students. Minister Wynne also agreed to further consultation regarding the SIF in an effort to provide additional context. As a result, the school bag option has been removed from the site, though the vehicle to compare schools and the parameters for comparison remain in tact.

Through discussions over the last several days it has become increasingly more apparent that the School Information Finder is part of the Premier’s agenda, and that the final decision may rest with him. Never-the-less, CPCO looks forward to further consultation with the ministry and will certainly keep its members informed of further developments as they arise.

May the glory
and the promise
of this joyous Easter time
bring peace
and happiness to you and your loved ones.

On behalf of the CPCO staff, I wish you a holy and joyous Easter!

 

Upcoming Events

April 8 – Principal/Vice-Principal Performance Appraisal & Terms and Conditions Work Group
April 14 – Kenora Principals’ Association visit
April 15 – Thunder Bay PVP Association visit

If you would like to comment or provide feedback on the President’s Journal, please contact Joan Duckitt at president@cpco.on.ca.