AIMS Fellow in Public Education Reform pulled no punches when he sat before the PEI Task Force on Student Achievement. Angus McBeath talks from experience and held his audience enthralled clearly explaining AIMS position on public education reform.
“The most important work in society takes place in our classrooms. We must focus all of our efforts, our systems, and our structures to support our teachers in doing that work, and doing it well. That means we must measure accurately, report publicly on those measures, and change practices in classrooms and boardrooms based on what the data tells us.”
AIMS was pleased to see this message reflected not only in the final report of the PEI Task Force on Student Achievement but in the initial response to that report from the Premier and the Minister of Education. Clearly, the AIMS message is being heard and understood on the Island.
However, there is still a lot of work left to be done. The Task Force report included 20 recommendations ranging from curriculum to student assessment to student engagement reflecting much of AIMS’ presentation. However, it was the recommendation about administering common assessments to students that perhaps caused the most debate.
CBC Radio in Charlottetown turned to AIMS to provide an explanation of common assessments, standardized testing, and how to appropriately assess student performance. AIMS vice president Charles Cirtwill provided the expertise to answer the questions and explain the importance of getting this done right.
To listen to the interview, click on this file name CBCPEIJan27Cirtwill.mp3
To read AIMS’ presentation to the Task Force on Student Achievement, click here.
To read the media reports generated by AIMS’ presentation, click here.
To read AIMS’ paper on “Choice, accountability, and performance in the public schools: How Edmonton does it and why it works.”, click here.