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British Columbia
School Superintendents
Association

Issues/Topics A–Z

ASSESSMENT/STANDARDS

 Student Learning: District Role in Assessment Practice Aug 2004 (School District #5 Southeast Kootenay)

Public Confidence from the Classroom Out: Using the BC Performance Standards to Increase Learner, Teacher and School Confidence - presented by Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser, UBC Symposium, Mar 2002

Find out how BC's Network of Performance-Based Schools uses performance-based assessment strategies in reading, writing, numeracy and social responsibility while engaging in school improvement from the "classroom out."

Links:
American Association of School Administrators - Assessment Resources
BC Ministry of Education – Performance Standards
BC Ministry of Education – Student Assessment Program (includes links to FSA results, national and international assessments)
edudataCanada at UBC (information on SAIP and International Assessment, with data links to TIMSS, PIRLS, PISA)
International Study Center at Boston College – Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)

TOPCLASS SIZE

Links:
BC Ministry of Education - Class Size and Composition
"Crowd Control" (Education Next, May 2003) examines TIMMS data to compare class size around the world. Download access to 65-page unabridged article by Martin West and Ludger Woessmann on Education Next site: www.educationnext.org
Edmonton Class Size Initiative (2000)
Commission on Class Size and Composition, Final Report (Manitoba Department of Education, Apr 2002)

DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING

Download Data-Driven Dialogue: Facilitating Collaborative Inquiry (Bruce Wellman, Laura Lipton)

Bruce Wellman, a presenter at the BCSSA-BCPVPA Leadership Academy, continues his work with BC educators in using data to improve student learning achievement. Visit the MiraVia site to download free study guides and order books.

DISTRICT REVIEW

Notes and Observations for Chairs and Superintendents - (Judy Halbert) Feb-Mar 2003
District Review Process: Overview for Superintendents, Chairs and Team Members - Feb 2003

Links:
BC Ministry of Education – District Review
BC Ministry of Education – District Accountability Contracts

TOPGRADUATION

BC Ministry of Education – Graduation (information on 1995 and 2004 programs, exams, Adult Graduation Program)

LEADERSHIP

The Adaptive Executive (Jennifer James, BCSSA Fall Conference 2005)
Building educational leadership capacity through coaching partnerships (Jan Robertson, BCSSA Fall Conference 2005)

BCSSA Dimensions of Practice – The dimensions are intended to provide a focus for personal and professional growth planning as individuals evolve in their district leadership roles, and can be used for both individual and group development, in maintaining and enhancing the best possible practices in educational leadership. In 2003 the BCSSA launched the Dimensions of Practice Online program through Royal Roads University for school-based administrators interestsed in becoming district leaders.

We invite you to read some of our publications focusing on professional development and influencing public education: Dimensions of Practice; Professional Development Plan to Support the Dimensions of Practice; Influencing Public Education – Strategic Plan; and Influencing Public Education – Supporting Communications Plan.

 Performance-Based Leadership – Inquiry into Action Aug 2004 (Linda Kaser and Judy Halbert, Network of Performance-Based Schools)
Working With New Boards - Robin Brayne, SD 44 North Vancouver - Aug 2002

Links:
American Association of School Administrators Center for System Leadership
The Schools We Need, Final Report by Ken Leithwood, Michael Fullan and Nancy Watson (OISE, University of Toronto publication)
Educational Leadership (ASCD magazine)
The School Administrator (AASA magazine)
Executive Development Program – by Gordon Bell, SD 73 Kamloops-Thompson (Aug 2006)
Unlocking the Potential for District-Wide Reform by Carol Campbell and Michael Fullan (May 2006)

LEGISLATION

Bill 33 - Education (Learning Enhancement) Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, contains amendments to the Independent School Act and Teaching Profession Act dealing with learning, class size and composition, and reporting requirements.

BC College of Teachers Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct of Educators in British Columbia (second edition, May 2004)

Links:
TOPBC Ministry of Education – Governance (includes access to Legislation Updates and Manual of School Law)
BC Ministry of Education – Policy
BC School Trustees Association – Policy Database (searchable database)
Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education (CAPSLE)

LITERACY

Multiliteracies and Equity: Becoming the Canada We Want (Jim Cummins, BCSSA Fall Conference 2006)
Literacy Assessment (Faye Brownlie) Nov 2004
 Literacy Assessment (Faye Brownlie) Mar-Apr 2005
 All About PWIM, ‘Picture Word Inductive Model’ Aug 2004
 Picture Word Inductive Model Aug 2004 [slides] School District #58 (Nicola-Similkameen) and #37 (Delta)
The Reading Project Part 1 Aug 2004 [session handout]
The Reading Project Part 2 Aug 2004 [slides] School District #57 (Prince George)

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Journey to the Four-Day Week - SD 51 Boundary
[4.8 Mb PDF]
Survey results: parents, students, teachers, teaching assistants, secretaries, drivers. [individual PDF files, each <1Mb]

 It's About Time - A Discussion Paper - SD 35 Langley – Feb 2003
What does the research say about altered time-tabling/calendar as it relates to student achievement and equity?

 Changing School Calendars: Designing organizational coherence with activities corresponding to purpose – slide presentation by Nancy Wells, SD 75 Mission – Aug 2002

Links:
Year-Round Schooling (Carolyn Shields, UBC Department of Eduational Studies)
Standard School Calendar (B.C. Ministry of Education)

SCHOOL CHOICE

 School Choice: setting the stage for a productive discussion – Oct 2001

Links:
School Choice (AchieveBC site, go to Your Education System, then scroll to Open Boundaries to download pamphlet)
Public Education Flexibility and Choice Act – Bill 28

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Report on Educational and Operational Viability of Small Schools - prepared by Keven Elder, SD 63 Saanich, Aug 2003

SCHOOL HEALTH & SAFETY

FAQs for Education Professionals
Feeding the Minds and Bodies of BC Students: A Resource for District Decision Makers
Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
School Food Sales and Policies Provincial Report 2005
Action Schools! BC: An individualized program for student health (presentation by Jim Martens, BCSSA Summer Leadership Academy 2003)
Taking Action on Child Health - Heather McKay, BCSSA Fall Conference 2003
Health Promotion - Patti-Jean Naylor, BCSSA Fall Conference 2003
Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels of Adolescents - Joan Wharf-Higgins, BCSSA Fall Conference 2003

Links:
Making It Happen: Healthy Eating at School
Directorate of Agencies for School Health (DASH) Feeding Minds and Bodies of BC Students Project
Dieticians of Canada
Ministry of Education - Healthy Schools Publications
Action Schools! BC
BC Government Safe Schools Task Force
BC Ministry of Education – BC Safe Schools Strategy
TOPBC Safe Schools & Communities Centre

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

What Kind of Education, What Kind of World?
Improving Education in Canada: What We Know and What We Need to Do (Ben Levin, BCSSA Fall Conference 2006)
Creating a High Flat Gradient: Lessons from Improving Schools - slide presentation by Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser, UBC Symposium, Jan 2003
Louise Stoll: It's About Learning - BCSSA Fall Conference 2003

 Every Principal's Guide to Special Education in British Columbia (Aug 2002)
 Every Principal's Guide to Special Education in British Columbia (slide presentation at BCSSA orientation session, Nov 2002)
 Parents Guide to Individual Education Planning (IEP) (updated Jul 2002)
 Special Education Review Workplan Update – Feb 2002

Links:
BC Ministry of Education – Special Education
BCTF Teaching to Diversity

TECHNOLOGY

 Achievement for All Children - An Apple Canada Perspective
 Technology and Student Achievement (slide presentation) - Stewart Ladyman - Aug 2003

Links:
Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium (ERAC)
BC Ministry of Education – ICT & Technology Resources for the Classroom
BCSSA-Apple Technology Scholarships (view BC's best website projects by students)
Education Profiles (Apple Computers Education)
Apple Education - 1 to 1 Learning


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