The LDCSB has decided not to participate in the online Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) field test this year because of the additional pressure and stress on students and staff due to COVID-19.
Since all LDCSB high schools are operating on an adapted (cohort) model, adequately preparing for and administering the field test would have resulted in the loss of at least two instructional days. Making up these days of instruction and learning on an already tight 22-day octomester schedule would have been very difficult.
Additional challenges facing schools would have included maintaining existing cohorts on test days (when not all students would be writing) as well as meeting the OSSLT technical requirements.
This spring, EQAO had asked school boards to consider field testing the new OSSLT for eligible Grade 10 and 11 students and non-graduating Grade 12 students attending classes in person. The Ministry of Education has waived the literacy requirement for students graduating this school year.
Since all LDCSB high schools are operating on an adapted (cohort) model, adequately preparing for and administering the field test would have resulted in the loss of at least two instructional days. Making up these days of instruction and learning on an already tight 22-day octomester schedule would have been very difficult.
Additional challenges facing schools would have included maintaining existing cohorts on test days (when not all students would be writing) as well as meeting the OSSLT technical requirements.
This spring, EQAO had asked school boards to consider field testing the new OSSLT for eligible Grade 10 and 11 students and non-graduating Grade 12 students attending classes in person. The Ministry of Education has waived the literacy requirement for students graduating this school year.