Case Study: EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics

Case Study: EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics

“While observation can yield many valuable insights, data provide accurate and verifiable ‘snapshot’ of school performance and serve as a powerful foundation for effective improvement planning. Data enable more precise and probing questions to be explored. They can identify school strengths and weaknesses and pinpoint the sources of both. Likewise, they can provide a yardstick against which school improvement strategies can be measured for effectiveness over time. Confidence in the understanding of data gathering and interpretation is a critical underpinning of school improvement planning and an important foundation of effective instructional leadership.”
Working Together for Student Success: A School Improvement Guide, EQAO, 2005

OttawaValleySecondary School (OVSS)

This case study uses EQAO achievement and questionnaire data to create a fictional school. The results presented here are intended to illustrate how principals can work with their staffs to analyze and interpret EQAO data and link achievement results with planning and instructional practices. The case study can be used for a number of purposes:

To illustrate the types of data available through EQAO assessments;
To introduce a process for analyzing the school’s EQAO results using a case study approach;
To demonstrate how to analyze and interpret different types of data;
To identify additional sources of data to be examined in addition to EQAO data.

The case study is divided into four sections: Demographic Data, Student Achievement Data, Perceptual Data, and School Process Data. Each section includes a snapshot of EQAO data and a set of sample questions for analysis is included on the last page.The case study can be used as package;individual sections can also be used as separate exercises.

It is important to note that schools have and should utilize a wide range of data when interpreting their EQAO results. This case study is limited to the range of data available through EQAO assessments. Other sources of relevant data are listed in the analyzing provincial Assessment Results, Multiple Sources of Data and School Improvement Planning links on this web site.

Guidelines for Principals

Use a wide range of data from different sources, in addition to EQAO
Explore contextual and perceptual factors as well as achievement data
Determine significant trends, patterns and relationships
Identify key issues to be further explored and addressed

Note: This case study is intended for internal use by schools and boards to support analysis of school EQAO results. It does not represent a complete or accurate picture of an actual school.

Demographic Data

OttawaValleySecondary School

Student Achievement Data

OttawaValleySecondary School

Item Information Reports

OttawaValleySecondary School

Note: Only one mathematics strand is included in this case study to illustrate the content and format of the Item Information Reports. Schools should analyze all strands in the Item Information Report to get a more complete snapshot of achievement across strands and program types.

Perceptual Data

Student Questionnaires

Note: Sample items are included in this case study. Schools should analyze all items in the student questionnaires to get a more complete snapshot of student perceptions by gender and program.

School Process Data

Note: EQAO Teacher Questionnaires report instructional and assessment practices at the district level in order to protect anonymity of respondents. They can be analyzed to identify overall patterns and areas for further exploration at the school level. Additional information will be required from other school sources.

Guiding Questions for Analysis

EQAO Case Study: Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics OttawaRegion MISA PNC,