RE: Upcoming EQAO Assessment 2024-2025

Dear Parent/Guardian:

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9.

This year, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will be offering the online OSSLT to students in Grade 10 and our previously eligible students, including those who are learning remotely. Successful completion of this literacy test is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Between November 7th and December 2nd 2024, our eligible students will be taking part in the OSSLT.

Students will complete the test with their period 2 classes and continue into period 3. There are two booklets to complete (Session A and Session B) which are comprised of reading and writing and are designed to be completed between 65-75 minutes per booklet. Students will complete each session in one sitting.

Further information regarding the OSSLT:

This test is fully online and must be completed onsite using a school computer
Students need to be in the testing room (206 or 207) and ready to begin writing the test at 9:25 am.
The OSSLT is divided into two sessions and all students will be provided with reasonable extra time to complete the test with confidence.
Cellphones are not permitted in the testing room during the administration of the test.
OSSLT results do not count toward students’ grades, but successful completion of the test is a requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
If a student is unable to attend school on the assigned day, or for whatever reason is not able to complete the test, they will have another opportunity in the Spring.

For all students on an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) most accommodations are provided through the online testing tools however, if your child requires to use speech to text or a scribe these accommodations will be made available to them on the day of the testing.

For more information regarding online practice test, and other Literacy Test information, please go to the St. Benedict Website at http://stbenedict.wcdsb.ca/. Click on “Student Services”, and then click “OSSLT Literacy Test Preparation” or students can visit the EQAO website at www.eqao.com

Please see or contact Andreia Borba at Andreia.borba@wcdsb.ca for further clarification.

Schedule for Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Student participating in the OSSLT will follow the schedule below:

Warning Bell	7:55
Instructions	8:00 – 8:10
Session 1	8:10 – 9:30
BREAK	9:30 – 9:40
Session 2	9:40 – 11:15
Survey	11:15 – 1:25
Dismissal	11:25

Classes to remain open for students needing extra time – please contact Andreia Borba if you have students who need extra time.

Results for the testing will be released mid June after the open-response questions have been scored. An Individual Student Report will be generated for each student after the scoring of the assessment.

For all students not participating in the test administration, they will be working from home ASYNCHRONOUSLY. Lessons and work will be posted for your child by 8:00am. Students will be required to log into their D2L to access their work.

If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Andreia Borba, OSSLT Lead at andreia.borba@wcdsb.ca. You may also contact your child’s administrator.

Good Luck to all our students who will be participating in the testing on April 10th.

Test Preparation for Students

We recognize that some students find testing stressful, and we will provide students with support leading up to the test. Small group sessions will begin to run March 18th and will continue to run until April 9th. Furthermore, we are providing students with literacy support during their lunch hour in room 213 and after school in room 213 on Mondays and Wednesdays at our Homework Club. Please encourage your child to seek assistance and support for the testing.

Students have also been enrolled in a D2L page that will also provide them with the practice test and support lessons for the section of the testing.

Accommodations

All students are eligible to receive extra time if required. As per past practice, additional accommodations are available to students with special program needs who have an IEP (Individual Education Plan). Those accommodations are listed on your child’s Individual Education Plan. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the accommodations your child will receive, please contact Andreia Borba at the information listed above or your child’s IEP Monitor.

We wish all our students the best of luck as they participate in the Ontario Secondary Literacy Test.

Thank you for your continued support.