Achievement Contract shows Abbotsford students above provincial rates

The annual district Achievement Report was presented to the Abbotsford Board of Education tonight, and it confirms that Abbotsford students continue to perform above provincial levels on a variety of measures.

In his presentation to the Board, Superintendent Kevin Godden reviewed the two key goals for the district, which remain: improving achievement for all learners; and improving graduation rates in the district – with particular emphasis on Aboriginal students.

“Our six year Dogwood completion rate – the standard measurement for grad rates across the province –stood at about 88% as of last year. The provincial average is 81%. But the Aboriginal grad rate sits at about 75% in our district, and while that’s above the provincial average, this remains a prime focus for improvement,” noted Superintendent Godden.

The plan details a variety of achievement targets at all levels of schooling, for numeracy, literacy, writing, and secondary student scores on provincial exams. Where provincial data is available, it illustrates that Abbotsford students are achieving at higher rates than the provincial averages. But the document notes areas where there should be more support to improve achievement in Abbotsford.

“District and provincial reading assessments show an ongoing need to support early reading intervention, given the Board goal to have every student in our district meeting expectations in reading by the end of grade three” notes the Superintendent.

The 2015/16 District Achievement Plan is the district’s 14th “Accountability Contract”. It is a living document; as staff receives new data from district and provincial assessments, the objectives and corresponding interventions are updated to support the district’s ongoing improvement efforts. Objectives from the Board’s strategic plan have been embedded throughout the Achievement Plan.

The plan is an annual document currently required of school districts by the Ministry of Education by July 15th of each year. However, the new Bill 11 (The Education Statutes Amendment Act), if passed on July 1 this year, will remove the requirement for boards to annually approve and submit the District Accountability Contract as it currently stands. New accountability requirements will be required in the coming years.

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Media Contact:
Dave Stephen
Manager, Communications,
Abbotsford School District
604.859.4891, ext. 1206