AIMS is a leading proponent of standardized testing in public schools, and it appears governments are finally getting the message. As New Brunswick reconsiders its options, AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill points out that the top performing provinces in Canada all have standardized testing regimes. He says using the data from testing has helped Newfoundland and Labrador make dramatic improvements.
AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill welcomes news that New Brunswick is taking a serious look at data collection and student testing. However, he points out it is how educators use data that will help make improvements to the public education system.
This edition of the Beacon explores issues ranging from urban development to the Atlantic Gateway to education.
As soon as the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results were released in Paris, education reporters were calling AIMS to help interpret the results. In this article, senior policy analyst Bobby O'Keefe explains that New Brunswick needs to start using performance data to make improvements to its public education, or it will continue to languish at the bottom of the pack.
The Chronicle-Herald asked AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill to weigh in on the ongoing Halifax Regional School Board power struggle. His advice was simple. The deposed school board members should resign, forcing an election and letting the public decide their fate. He says appealing the court decision is a waste of money, both the councillors', but more importantly tax-payers'.
This edition of The Beacon has extensive coverage of health care, education and the federal government's $60B tax cut.
AIMS points out that expanding Tuition Support, not getting rid of it, is in the best interest of students and the province of Nova Scotia.
In asking for some big new ideas, the Premier of Nova Scotia laid down a challenge to a gathering of education stakeholders – incremental changes are not enough. In his fortnightly column AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill took up that challenge in spades. He proposes not only doing away with school boards but combining that move with a shift to true site based management at the school level. Making schools responsible for student performance and making the department responsible for supporting, not running, schools.
This edition of The Beacon features an opinion piece from The National Post on public education written by AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill as well as articles on a variety of current policy hot topics, including health care and the Atlantic Gateway.
The results of writing assessments in New Brunswick are not good; it seems that few children are being taught how to write properly. Bobby O'Keefe, an AIMS senior policy analyst, suggests that one reason for the poor results may be that schools aren't focused enough on the basics of education.