THUNDER BAY -- Ontario's Education Quality and Accountability Office has singled out two Lakehead District Public schools and a Thunder Bay Catholic school for using EQAO test results and other information to help strengthen literacy skills.
The Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement Award was announced Wednesday for McKellar Park Central School, Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute and St. Martin Catholic Elementary School.
The three are among 12 English-language schools in the province chosen for the award.
The announcement stated that "guided by its focus on equity and inclusion, this year EQAO recognized schools whose initiatives helped a growing proportion of students with special education needs to meet the provincial literacy standard."
The EQAO's provincial tests assess student literacy (reading and writing) and math skills at three points between kindergarten and Grade 12.
This year's recipients of the award saw an increase in the percentage of students with special education needs meeting the standard on either the reading or writing component of provincial assessments from 2014 to 2017.
In its own announcement about the recognition, the Thunder Bay Catholic board said "principals and educators at St. Martin have successfully utilized data to foster a culture in which students receive the support they need to succeed."
St. Martin principals Letizia Tremonti and Alma Provenzano along with teachers Michelle Lemmetty, Maggie Redfern Pucci, Christine Traer and Michelle Gale are attending the EQAO Forum this week in Toronto, where the award was presented.
Lakehead public board Director of Education Ian MacRae said in a news release "we are extremely proud of the efforts made by the teaching teams at both McKellar Park Central and Superior CVI for their daily commitment to supporting student achievement."
