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Revised (Nov 20 2008)
District achievement contract
The Ministry of Education requires all boards of education to submit an annual achievement contract with a focus on improving schools and student performance. The document describes the board’s educational goals and reports progress as well as class size averages in the district.
In 2002, the ministry set out a framework for gathering information related to student achievement in all its forms, analyzing the information, developing plans for improvement, implementing the plans, reviewing results and publicly reporting results. Boards are encouraged to use the materials and information generated by the process in ways that are meaningful in their own communities.
The framework sets out specific duties for schools, boards and the Ministry of Education to establish and monitor student achievement goals on an annual basis. Major revisions were made in 2007 when boards were given officially mandated responsibilities for early childhood education and adult literacy.
Using data from a variety of sources—the classroom, school, district and ministry—helps boards make sound decisions for improving student achievement and can lead to discussion and in-service in schools and districts and with parents. As boards monitor progress toward district goals, they are able to identify areas of strength and weakness. They can redirect resources by adjusting staffing, providing in-service and developing targeted programs to address the priorities set out in the achievement contracts.
The annual goals that come from the district achievement contract form the basis for discussion of the school district’s operating budget. Resource allocations in support of the goals have to be considered.
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Crisis management
