Student Achievement Plan

Division Priority One: NLPS Will Increase Student Achievement

Northern Lights Public Schools is committed to enhancing and supporting instructional practices to improve the numeracy and literacy skills of all ECS to Grade 6 students, and is committed to providing all Grade 7 to 12 students with enhanced instruction and programming to ensure a learning pathway that leads to success.

Outcome 1

Kindergarten to Grade 6 Students: In alignment with Outcome One of the Alberta Education business plan, Alberta’s students are successful, Northern Lights students will achieve the acceptable standard in literacy and numeracy foundational skills with enhanced and supporting instructional practices.

Performance Measures

Student achievement entails students meeting or exceeding established learning outcomes, and obtaining the knowledge and skills, as well as receiving diverse programming opportunities, to successfully complete high school and transition to post-secondary training or employment. Acceptable standard is defined as:

• for Kindergarten children the percentage of children meeting Early Years Evaluation - Teacher Assessment (EYE-TA) developmental milestones-pre-test and post-test measures
• for grades 1-3 students not requiring additional support as per the provincial early years assessments
• for grades 4-5 those students who are at grade level using the CAT4 assessment
• for grade 6 those students who meet the acceptable standard on Provincial Achievement Tests

Plan for Implementation - Strategies

Northern Lights is committed to the successful implementation of the new curriculum through a multifaceted approach. Directors of Learning will work with administrators to hone skills in being instructional leaders. Focus will be on design and structure of numeracy and literacy blocks to build teacher capacity. Teachers are also empowered with the autonomy to select resources that best fit their instructional strategies.

Upcoming professional learning days will be dedicated to deepening collaborative practices within both grade-level and subject-specific teams. The core objective is to empower educators to work together more effectively to enhance instructional strategies, analyze student data, develop common assessments, and vertically align curriculum. Dedicated time will be provided for these teams to collaboratively plan units, share best practices, discuss content-specific pedagogical approaches, and share resources, thereby fostering a cohesive and articulated learning experience for all students.

Northern Lights is strengthening its instructional leadership by focusing on the use of generative dialogue. By fostering and enhancing skills in generative dialogue, the initiative aims to improve classroom instruction. This approach ensures that instructional leadership remains a central priority for administrators, thereby directly influencing and enhancing teaching practices. Through this emphasis, Northern Lights is committed to creating a collaborative environment that empowers both leaders and teachers to continually refine and elevate educational practices for the benefit of students.

Each school within Northern Lights is developing and implementing school-specific strategies as part of their individual school plans. These strategies are tailored to meet the unique needs and demographics of each school, ensuring consistency with the overall goals and initiatives of the division.

Outcome 2

Grades 7 to Grade 12 Students: In alignment with Outcome Three of the Alberta Education business plan, Alberta’s students have access to a variety of learning opportunities to enhance competitiveness in the modern economy, Northern Lights students will express high levels of satisfaction in supports provided by Learning Pathway Advisors and the programming offered.

Performance Measures

For this priority, the performance measures will include:

• Grade 7 and 8 Common Assessments
• Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Test
• Grade 12 Provincial Diploma Exam
• Percentage of students who complete high school in 3, 4, or 5 years.
• Number of students enrolled in Dual Credit Programs (using the number of participants in 2023-24 as base data)
• Alberta Education Assurance Survey measures:
  • Percentage of teachers, parents, and students who are satisfied with the overall quality of education at school.
  • Percentage of teachers, parents, and students who are satisfied with access to support and services at school.
  • Percentage of teachers, and parents who are satisfied with work preparation for students.
  • Percentage of students and parents who agree that students are engaged in their learning at school.

Plan for Implementation - Strategies

Northern Lights Public Schools is committed to ensuring that students in grades 7 to 12 receive high-quality instruction and programming opportunities aligned with their learning pathways. To support this, the division is enhancing the role of Learning Pathways Advisors to better assist students and their parents/guardians in selecting appropriate programs as they transition from high school to post-secondary education or employment. Feedback from the division’s Student Advisory Council to the Board indicates that having designated Learning Pathway advisors has helped to bring awareness to career pathways through career fairs, and enriched programming in areas such as Dual Credit courses, the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), Work Experience, Land-Based Learning, the use of the Mobile Trades Lab, and the Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre.

Northern Lights strategically utilizes professional staff to champion its educational initiatives and foster student success. A dedicated team, including the Director of Learning - Grades 7 to 12 Instructional Support, Learning Pathways Advisors, administrators, and teaching staff, provides vital human capital. Furthermore, robust collaborations with esteemed post-secondary institutions such as Portage College, Olds College, Lakeland College, and Athabasca University, alongside valuable partnerships with organizations like Careers The Next Generation and various community stakeholders, significantly enrich and expand the educational offerings available to students.

Northern Lights Public Schools’ application for a collegiate school has been approved, with specialized pathways for students in Health, Education, and Trades. This initiative builds upon the division’s commitment to providing diverse and relevant learning opportunities. To support students’ hands-on learning experiences, the division also provides programs and opportunities that include Skills Alberta, Hunters Education, the Registered Apprenticeship Program and paid internships, which provide practical training opportunities. Dual Credit programming in the areas of Trades, Computer Science, Cree, and University Transfer courses are available to all Northern Lights high school students. Through this array of resources, Northern Lights is well-equipped to deliver a high-quality educational experience.

Northern Lights is strengthening its instructional leadership by focusing on the use of generative dialogue. By fostering and enhancing skills in generative dialogue, the initiative aims to improve classroom instruction. This approach ensures that instructional leadership remains a central priority for administrators, thereby directly influencing and enhancing teaching practices. Through this emphasis, Northern Lights is committed to creating a collaborative environment that empowers both leaders and teachers to continually refine and elevate educational practices for the benefit of students.

Each school within Northern Lights is developing and implementing school-specific strategies as part of their improvement plans. These strategies are aligned with division actions and tailored to meet the unique needs and demographics of each school, ensuring consistency with the overall goals and initiatives of the division.