This guide is for school and school board staff who are planning and delivering SHSM programs.

Overview

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs help students develop sector-recognized knowledge and skills that will contribute to their success in:

  • the workplace
  • postsecondary education
  • the training program of their choice

Your school SHSM team should regularly evaluate and refine your SHSM so it continues to meet these goals. Ongoing evaluation helps your team improve the program and respond to changes in its SHSM sector. 

Collecting and evaluating information

Collect and analyze various types of information as part of your evaluation process. For example:

  • analyze student attitudes, experiences and insights to assess engagement
  • track enrolment, retention and credit accumulation to measure impact on graduation

You can get this information through:

  • student surveys at the end of each semester
  • Ministry of Education data
  • external evaluations
  • employment trends
  • market data

Use this information to:

  • target resources for future success and growth
  • ensure programs stay relevant to the community

Consult SHSM stakeholders as part of the evaluation process.

Measurement indicators

Use these indicators to help measure and track the success of your SHSM program:

  • student engagement, as measured by student absences, lateness and teacher observations
  • credit accumulation, including credits attempted and achieved
  • survey responses from students, parents, teachers and employers
  • enrolment data, including demographics, such as students with special education needs, English language learners and Indigenous students
  • the percentage of Grade 11 students who continue with the SHSM in Grade 12
  • your school's SHSM completion rate compared to other SHSM programs in the board or the province
  • stakeholder, parent and student recognition of the value of your SHSM (for example, through testimonials, letters or other means)
  • community and sector partner involvement
  • graduate survey conducted several months after graduation
  • percentage of students who earn the SHSM seal on their OSSD
  • number and variety of experiential learning, career exploration and reach ahead activities
  • number of co-op placements available

Both students who leave an SHSM program and those who stay can have good outcomes.