Accountability Pillar Results Summary Report
October 20, 2017

Background:
The Accountability Pillar surveys are administered annually during the months of January to March 
to:
•     Students in grades four, seven and ten;
•     Students in grades four through nine (small schools);
•     Parents of students in grades four, seven and ten;
•    Teachers.

Students and teachers complete the surveys online at school while parents receive a copy of the 
survey by mail and are asked to return the survey directly to Alberta Education by  mail.

Responses were collected and tabulated into the summary chart released in May and were updated in 
October to include updated academic achievement based on the Provincial Achievement Tests and the 
Diploma Examination results (Divisional and FNMI specific).

Central High School is a Distance Education program that supports a wide diversity of learners 
within Medicine Hat. Students are registered for single classes, as full-time students, as dual 
enrollment with another district high school or to build credit towards graduation requirements. 
This population of students does not access the building in a traditional manner and therefore 
collecting data from this population is difficult. Traditionally students, parents, teachers were 
not formally asked to complete the Accountability Pillar Survey.

The YMCA Stay in School Program is an inclusive program that meets the need of at-risk youth in our 
District. Students come to us from partner schools at various times through the year, they stay in 
program as needed or until a time for transition is important for ongoing growth. Due to this 
unique student population we do not often have a stable population of students that have had 
consistent access to our education program and services. One of the greatest strengths of the 
program is that it offers the students a much smaller learning environment where supports become 
much more specific and specialized for them to meet their learning needs. Therefore, responses to a 
survey such as the Accountability Pillar can be affected by low participation and outlier 
responses. However, the data can often be much more personal and specific, very
data assessment is a requirement to gain benefits from the results.


Responses to the surveys were received from approximately:

• At both Central High School as well as the YMCA Stay in School Program, 0 Parents responded to 
the survey. Therefore, responses to the survey are not applicable, however the zero response data 
is a significant indicator for our schools.
• In Medicine Hat Public School Division, approximately 300 parents responded to the survey;

• At Central High,   0 students responded to the survey;
•At YMCA Stay in School Program 8 students responded to the survey;
• In MHPSD: 1658 Students (809 in Grades 4-6 / 447 in Grades 7-9  / 401 in Grades 10-12)  responded 
to the survey.

• At both Central High and YMCA Stay in School Program, 0 teachers responded to the survey;
• In MHPSD, approximately 327 teachers responded to the survey.

These are approximate numbers as not every parent, student or teachers answers every question.

Academically Derived measures are also provided on our school webpage. These 2016-2017 measures 
include:
•Provincial Achievement Tests (Acceptable and Excellence)
•Participation Rate


The Board’s Education Plan targets four strategic goals: Inclusive Mindset, Optimal Learning 
Environments, a Culture of Wellness and Leadership (both formal and informal). Our school’s plan 
for education aligns to the Board’s Education Plan.  Below are some highlights of our results and 
some areas of strategic planning. In each instance we connect these back to the four strategic 
goals.


Central High School as well as the YMCA Stay in School Program Highlights and Celebrations:

• The YMCA Stay in School Program students responded that they agree; 72% treated fairly by the 
adults in my school, 63 % that teachers care about me and 83% that students treat me well (Optimal 
Learning, Wellness)
• Access to Physical Education has always been a challenge for the school as we do not have direct 
access to physical education facilities however student respond 74% that they are satisfied with 
opportunities to participate at school in physical education (Wellness)
•The Stay in School Program also has to be very creative in how we vary the courses available at 
the school, we do not have access to labs, etc. Extra effort is needed to plan and implement a 
variety of options courses; students respond that access is good, 63% (Optimal Learning, Inclusive 
education)
• PAT results for the Stay in School Program showed an improvement from a four-year average of 
29.2% to an acceptable standard 45.8% in 2017 (Optimal Learning, Leadership)
• Indicators of school improvement show that 43% of students agree that they agree 43% of the time 
that they are proud of their school and 38% strongly agree that they would recommend the school to 
others (Wellness, Optimal Learning)
•Student responses in measurable category ‘Satisfaction with accessibility, effectiveness and 
efficiency of programs and services for student in their community.’

Measure              by         Measure             –            Survey Results  for        Community School

A.1b       Program              of           Studies Measure             History: Percentage          of           teachers,              parents and students       satisfied with      the           opportunity      for         students to          receive a              broad    program              of           studies  including             fine arts,      career,  technology,         and        health      and physical      education.             

A.4         Education            Quality: Percentage          of           teachers,             parents and         students satisfied               with overall         quality of             basic education.

A.6 Citizenship    Measure             History:    Percentage        of           teachers,             parents and students who       are         satisfied               that       students              model    the        characteristics               of           active    citizenship.            

A.7 Lifelong          Learning              Measure             History: Percentage          of           teacher and               parent   satisfaction         that       students              demonstrate          the       knowledge,               skills      and        attitudes             necessary            for         lifelong learning.                

A.8 Work              Preparation        Measure             History: Percentage          of           teachers               and        parents who       agree     that       students              are         taught      attitudes               and        behaviours          that       will        make     them     successful            at           work               when     they      finish     school.    

B.2 Satisfaction   with      Program              Access  Measure             History: Percentage          of               teacher, parent   and        student satisfaction         with      the        accessibility,       effectiveness        and        efficiency             of           programs            and        services for         students in           their      community.          

B.3 Program        of           Studies –            At          Risk       Students             Measure             History: Percentage          of           teacher, parent   and student        agreement          that       programs             for         children at           risk        are         easy      to          access   and        timely.     

B.4 Safe and        Caring   Measure             History: Percentage          of           teacher, parent   and               student agreement          that:        students             are         safe       at           school,  are               learning the        importance         of           caring    for         others,  are         learning respect  for         others   and        are         treated fairly     in           school.    

C.1          Parental              Involvement       Measure             History: Percentage          of           teachers and        parents satisfied               with      parental               involvement       in           decisions              about    their      child's   education.             

D.6         In-Service            Jurisdiction         Needs   Measure             History: Percentage          of teachers              reporting             that       in           the        past       3-5        years     the        professional         development      and        in-servicing         received               from      the        school authority             has        been      focused,               systematic          and        contributed         significantly         to          their      ongoing professional        growth.   

E.2          School   Improvement     Measure             History: Percentage          of           teachers, parents and        students              indicating            that       their      school   and        schools in their      jurisdiction          have      improved            or          stayed   the        same     the        last three     years.      

   Measure          by         Measure             –            Survey Results  for        Community School

A.1b       Program              of           Studies Measure             History: Percentage          of           teachers,              parents and students       satisfied with      the           opportunity      for         students to          receive a              broad    program              of           studies  including             fine arts,      career,  technology,         and        health      and physical      education.             

A.4         Education            Quality: Percentage          of           teachers,             parents and         students satisfied               with overall         quality of             basic education.

A.6 Citizenship    Measure             History:    Percentage        of           teachers,             parents and students who       are         satisfied               that       students              model    the        characteristics               of           active    citizenship.            

A.7 Lifelong          Learning              Measure             History: Percentage          of           teacher and               parent   satisfaction         that       students              demonstrate          the       knowledge,               skills      and        attitudes             necessary            for         lifelong learning.                

A.8 Work              Preparation        Measure             History: Percentage          of           teachers               and        parents who       agree     that       students              are         taught      attitudes               and        behaviours          that       will        make     them     successful            at           work               when     they      finish     school.