PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

Some ways that students with learning disabilities are supported include but are notlimited to the following.• Direct remedial, corrective, tutorial, or skill-building instruction;• Adapted, modified, or supplementary curriculum and materials;• Alternate instructional and/or evaluation strategies, including adjudicatedprovincial examinations;• Use of equipment, including computer and audiovisual technology;• Social skills training and instruction and practice of self-advocacy skills; and• Learning-strategies instruction.Special EducationIn British Columbia, approximately 11% of the student population is enrolled in specialeducation programs. 25 The local schools and/or districts decide how students with specialneeds are identified and taught. An individual education plan is created for each studentwith special needs, which describes individualized goals, adaptations, modifications,services to be provided, and measures for tracking achievement. The teacher responsiblefor a student with special needs is responsible for designing, supervising, and assessingthe educational program for that student. At some schools, teachers’ assistants play a keyrole in programs for students with special needs, performing functions that range frompersonal care to assisting the teacher with instructional programs.Teachers and Teacher EducationTo teach in the public schools of British Columbia, an educator must hold a Certificateof Qualification issued by the British Columbia College of Teachers or an IndependentSchool Teaching Certification. Graduates of a teacher education program (e.g., Bachelorof Education program) are qualified to apply for certification to teach in the province.PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaExaminations and AssessmentsRegional ExaminationsBritish Columbia students participate in three types of examinations and assessments:the Foundation Skills Assessment, graduation program examinations (grades 10, 11, and12), and optional grade 12 examinations.The Foundation Skills Assessment is an annual, province-wide assessment thatprovides a snapshot of how well students in grades 4 and 7 are learning foundationskills in reading, writing, and numeracy. The main purpose of the assessment is to helpthe province, school districts, and schools evaluate how well students are achieving basicskills, and make plans to improve student achievement.The graduation program examinations in grades 10, 11, and 12 certify the performanceof British Columbia students. Graduation program examinations are large-scaleexaminations designed to certify that individual students have met provincial graduationrequirements. In addition, optional examinations in grade 12 are offered in mathematics,CanadaTIMSS & PIRLSInternational Study CenterLynch School of Education, Boston College 69