Streaming_Report-September-v1.1-web

18 | STILL STREAMED: HOW HIGH IMPACT DECISIONS ARE SHAPING STUDENTS’ FUTURES
The process of streaming students begins in
elementary school. Differential treatment, both
intentional and unintentional, based on student’s
socio-economic backgrounds results in very
different levels of achievement. 39 For example,
students are grouped among and within classes
based on their assumed abilities and/or interests.
This can take place within regular schools, or
may be done through placements in special
education programs or specialty programs, such as
alternative schools and French immersion.
This dispartity in treatment and outcomes is the
result of an system in which ability grouping is
used, ostensibly to faciliate effective teaching and
learning, despite mixed evidence. 40
In the face of these barriers, our research also
suggests that grade 8 is too early to require
young people to make important life decisions,
including the pathway they will take through high
school. From the age of 13 to the time a student
graduates, young people experience important
social, emotional, and cognitive changes which
shape their interests, needs, and aspirations.
It is during this time that young people are
actively exploring their identity, while also placing
“At first I thought certain
stuff you didn’t really need.
Then later on when I was in
my senior year I was thinking
learning more would be better
because you never know what
can come at you.”
-student, grade 12
increasing importance on peer relationships. 41
Understandably, several students noted a greater
maturity and readiness to make these choices in
their later years of high school.
39 Clandfield et al., 2014.
40 Hyland, 2006; Johnston & Wildy, 2016.
41 Government of Ontario, 2012.