Havergal College Course Calendar, 2017-18 Academic Year

graduation requirement in the following two years by retaking the test. Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT will be required to complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). (Canada. Ministry of Education, Ontario. Policy and Program. Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 : Policy and Program Requirements. Toronto: Ministry of Education, 2016. Print. Section 6.1.3 p 62) The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) (OS 6.1.3.1) The Ontario Secondary School Literacy test (OSSLT) is the usual method for assessing the literacy skills of students in Ontario for the purpose of determining whether they meet the provincial secondary school literacy requirement for graduation. The test thus identifies students who have demonstrated the required skills in literacy as well as those who have not demonstrated the required skills and will need to do further work. The test identifies the specific areas in which these latter students need remediation. The test is scheduled by and administered through the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) once each year, usually in the spring. Students will usually take the OSSLT in the school year following the school year in which they enter Grade 9, unless a deferral is granted by the Principal. Deferrals are intended for students who are working towards an OSSD and who have not yet acquired a level of proficiency in English that would allow them to successfully complete the test. Deferrals may also be granted to students who are unable to write the test at the scheduled time owing to illness, injury or other extenuating circumstances or to students who are new to the school and cannot be provided with the appropriate accommodations in time. Documentation must be submitted to the Principal of the school in such cases. The writing of the test may be deferred only to the time of the next scheduled test. If an additional deferral is required, the Principal must review the request again with the parent and appropriate school staff. (Canada. Ministry of Education, Ontario. Policy and Program. Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 : Policy and Program Requirements. Toronto: Ministry of Education, 2016. Print. Appendix 3 Section 3 pg 104) Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT will have opportunities to retake the test in subsequent years, on dates scheduled by the EQAO. Once students have successfully completed the OSSLT, they may not retake it. Students who are English language learners may be entitled to special provisions, which are adjustments to the setting and/or timing for writing the test. These provisions may be provided if the Principal deems such

provisions to be in the best educational interest of the student. Decisions about specific provisions must: • always be made on an individual student basis; • be made by the Principal in consultation with the student, parents (if the student is under the age of 18), Head of Guidance and Vice Principal, Teaching and Learning; • be made prior to the taking of the OSSLT; • conform to the permitted special provisions outlined in the EQAO document entitled, Guide for Accommodations, Special Provisions, Deferrals and Exemptions ; • be clearly communicated in writing to the parents, or directly to the adult student, in advance of writing the test; and • be recorded, with all pertinent details, on the Student Data Collection System provided by the EQAO for students writing the OSSLT. (Canada. Ministry of Education, Ontario. Policy and Program. Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 : Policy and Program Requirements. Toronto: Ministry of Education, 2016. Print. Appendix 3 Section 2 pg 103) For students with special education needs, accommodations specified in the student’s IEP must be available on the day of the test. Accommodations change only the way in which the OSSLT is administered or the way in which the student responds to the components of the test. They do not alter the content of the test or affect the validity or reliability of the test. To qualify for accommodations, a student must have an IEP that outlines accommodations to be provided during the test that are also necessary for and consistent with regular classroom practices and that are provided for all of her assessments. Decisions about accommodations must: • always be made on an individual student basis; • be made by the Principal in consultation with the student, parents (if the student is under the age of 18), Head of Guidance and Vice Principal, Teaching and Learning; • be made prior to the taking of the OSSLT; • take into consideration all accommodations included in the student’s IEP that are permitted as outlined in the EQAO document, entitled Guide for Accommodations, Special Provisions, Deferrals and Exemptions ; • be clearly communicated in writing to the parents, or directly to the adult student, in advance of writing the test; and • be recorded, with all pertinent details, on the Student Data Collection System provided by the EQAO for students writing the OSSLT. (Canada. Ministry of Education, Ontario. Policy and Program. Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 : Policy and Program Requirements. Toronto: Ministry of Education, 2016. Print. Appendix 3 Section 1 pg 99)

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