More Family Literacy Centres

The Impact of Impact Of Fewer Students

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ontario Opening More Family Literacy Centres

McGuinty Government Supports Early Learning and Parent Engagement

Ontario will open 34 new Parenting and Family Literacy Centres in schools this September. The $2 million investment will help more young children get a great start on learning.

Research shows that early childhood education helps to improve student achievement and prepare children for school. The centres help children up to six years of age build essential language, numbers and social skills through stories, music and play. Parents or caregivers attend with the children and engage in their learning.

Located in schools in high-needs communities, the centres also help ease the transition to kindergarten by:

Familiarizing children and families with school routines
Giving children and families the chance to spend time with other families
Linking families with appropriate community resources for special needs, health and other related services.
Quotes
"These centres are a great asset to communities and families. They give children an important and fun start on learning in those critical early years," said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

Quick Facts
The centres are free to attend and families do not have to pre-register.
Each centre has a book-lending library in different languages so parents can read to children in their first language.
This investment builds on the $6 million announced in June 2007 for 89 centres. There will now be a total of 123 centres across the province.
Learn More
Find out if there is a centre near you.

Read tips for parents to help your child learn.

Experts To Examine Impact Of Fewer Students

McGuinty Government Supporting Boards with Shrinking Student Numbers

The province is establishing a Declining Enrolment Working Group to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Education on strategies to advance the province's priority goals for student achievement while addressing the impact of declining enrolment.

The group, led by co-chairs Brant MPP Dave Levac and Eleanor Newman, Director of Education at Renfrew County District School Board, will begin work in June. A final report with recommendations will be submitted to the Minister of Education by the end of the year.

In particular, the group will:

Examine how impacts of declining enrolment vary across school boards and schools of different size, geography and language of instruction
Recommend strategies to improve the alignment of school board cost structures with reduced enrolment
Recommend strategies and best practices that will help boards and schools deliver effective education programs while adjusting to lower enrolment
Quotes
"In the face of declining enrolment, we're helping boards make adjustments to ensure our students get the support they need. We've made great progress already, and this report is the first step in the broader funding formula review in 2010," said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

"We're confident the findings will help boards across Ontario better respond to declining enrolment," said co-chairs Dave Levac and Eleanor Newman.

Did you know that Kumon Sylvan and Oxford in Toronto East York City of York Scarborugh North York East York Markham Thornhill Mississauga Brampton Richmondhill Woodbridge and Newmarket are Learning Centres that tutor many students. These are not 1 on 1 In Home tutoring centres.

Quick Facts
In 2008-09, 60 out of 72 Ontario school boards are projected to have declining enrolment.
The McGuinty government has reformed the funding formula to make it less sensitive to enrolment and has introduced specific measures that help boards adjust to declining enrolment.
Without these reforms, funding to boards would have been reduced by about $650 million. Instead, changes to the formula and additional investments have increased funding to boards by $4 billion.