2007EDU0172-001553
Ministry of Education: Dec. 5, 2007
VICTORIA – For the fourth consecutive year, B.C. is presenting the province’s school districts with $5 million to help students build better literacy skills, bringing the four-year total to $20 million, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
“Our literacy innovation grants are making a real difference in the lives of students,” said Bond. “The work we are doing to improve literacy is one of the reasons international tests like PIRLS and PISA are ranking our students as some of the best in the world.”
Across the province, most school districts and independent schools are focusing their efforts on areas of highest need, decreasing literacy gaps between boys and girls, and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. Last year, for example, the Sunshine Coast school district’s literacy programs helped teachers identify struggling readers, increased understanding of what helps students succeed, improved Aboriginal literacy, and increased the effectiveness of mentoring and buddy-reading systems.
“Over the last three years, we’ve seen great progress from many students who were struggling with reading,” said Greg Russell, board chair of the Sunshine Coast school district. “Last year alone, the number of children in our program who are meeting or exceeding the required reading levels went up by almost 50 percent.”
Making these grants available for a fourth year means districts can expand literacy programs from early learners to middle and secondary programs focusing on struggling readers. Some districts are also choosing to develop summer reading and family-focused literacy programs. This year, each school district is also being provided with funding to help develop a co-ordinated district literacy plan.
“B.C.’s school districts face a diverse set of challenges, from geographic to cultural, as they work to increase literacy levels,” said Bond. “No single solution is going to be the answer for all districts, but our literacy innovation grants allow every district to lead a collaborative effort to build vibrant, literate communities.”
Boards of education are now responsible for leading the development of district literacy plans with their community partners. The Ministry of Education is broadening the focus of this year’s literacy innovation grants to support districts in this important work. All districts and independent schools may submit a proposal for an innovation grant. Once the proposals have been received, grant amounts are determined based on student population and overall literacy needs.
The $20 million in four-year funding for innovative literacy programs and the co-ordination of local literacy efforts supports the Province’s Pacific Leadership Agenda and will help B.C. achieve its goal of being the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
Since 2001, the government has invested over $130 million in literacy for British Columbians through the Province’s literacy strategy, ReadNow BC. These programs have delivered approximately $32 million in literacy funding for schools, teachers, parents and others; $25 million for new textbooks; $30 million for early learning; $25 million for adult literacy; and $15 million for libraries.
Media
contact:
Lara Perzoff
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963
250 920-9040 (cell)
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