Elementary Mathematics Assessment

Description:

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is leading the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We are doing this by designing an innovative curriculum, facilitating excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring an inclusive education experience, and working closely with our partners in education. This will provide children, students, and families with a strong foundation for success. This department is a perfect fit for those that want to be part of the future of public education in the province by supporting student learning in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

As part of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's Centre for Equity in Achievement and Well-Being Branch, Student Assessment and Evaluation administers a comprehensive assessment program which provides reliable and accurate data about student performance in mathematics and literacy. We develop, administer, score, and report on English and French provincial assessments and examinations and are responsible for administering national and international assessments as well. Our division is entering an exciting time of reflection and change in the way we operate, and you will have the opportunity to be a major contributor to this change.

About Our Opportunity

Under the direction of the Director of Student Assessment and Evaluation, this position will support the work of advancing mathematics both within the division, branch, across the department, with regional centres for education and CSAP as well as other departments and partners.

The consultant will be part of the mathematics assessment team with responsibilities for planning, developing, and implementing, effective province-wide mathematics assessment programs for English, French First Language and French Immersion student populations at the elementary grade levels. The consultant will work collaboratively with department colleagues to provide leadership in support of improving classroom assessment and evaluation practices, with the purpose of establishing a comprehensive and balanced approach to mathematics assessment and evaluation in classrooms across the province.

Primary Accountabilities

The consultant will be responsible for supporting all provincial mathematics assessments and department initiatives with an emphasis on elementary outcomes and assessments including leading the development and administration of the mathematics 3 and 6 provincial assessments and all support materials. The consultant:

• plans, coordinates, and participates in the development and administration of elementary mathematics assessment instruments based on the Nova Scotia Mathematics curriculum outcomes. The consultant plans each project and identifies, recruits, and leads groups of teachers in the process of developing assessment instruments. The consultant follows established measurement procedures (preparing tables of specification, item writing, item field testing, analysis and revision, item banking, form creation, test administration, scoring, analysis, and reporting) with particular attention to current research-based practices for fair testing to produce valid and reliable test instruments.
• interprets test results for the department, regions, and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) to provide objective measurements of specified subject areas to implement curriculum and instructional change.
• advises and assists with the communication of the assessment results and its implications for classroom instruction and assessment follow up.
• ensures that the provincial assessments adhere to any newly implemented and current policies; adjusting as required. When curricular changes occur, ensures that those changes are reflected in the provincial assessments.
• recommends policy on future direction and developments for the provincial assessment program with the understanding that the purpose of assessment is twofold: to improve teaching and learning and to address the increased demand for accountability.

Primary Accountabilities Cont

• works collaboratively across branches and divisions within the department by actively participating as a key member of the Provincial Mathematics Team to provide leadership and support to the:
  • development/revision of mathematics curricula
  • selection of mathematics resources, including assistive technology
  • Provincial Assessment Policy implementation
  • Inclusive Education Policy implementation
  • Knowledge Hook implementation
  • implementation of effective classroom assessment practices with the purpose of improving classroom instruction and student achievement in mathematics.
• provides professional learning opportunities to groups of teachers within and across regional centres for education/CSAP around using provincial mathematics assessment data to inform instruction to support student learning (e.g., school PLCs, mathematics leads, Summer Learning Academy)
• represents Nova Scotia’s interest in participation in national and international assessment programs to evaluate the achievement of Nova Scotia students in a broader context, and works with department, regional and the CSAP curriculum consultants in the use of provincial, national and international testing results as a basis for program evaluation and system improvement.
• performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will possess a Master’s degree or equivalent teacher certification, with a minimum of eight years successful elementary mathematics teaching experience in the public school system. You will have extensive knowledge and practical experience with current pedagogy (i.e., inclusive and effective instruction and assessment practices and materials/resources, including technologies, that are used in our elementary mathematics classrooms).