SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Module 9

School Programs: Elementary and Secondary Policy Requirements• Best Start/Full Day Learning• Student Success/Learning to 18/Transitions• Differentiated Instruction*Growing Success

Building our youth for the future!! 

Building a strong foundation for a strong economy.

Ontario's Best Start Strategy is a comprehensive continuous, and integrated system for children from birth to age 12 and their families.

It is an umbrella structure for programs and initiatives rolled out by both the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Child and Youth Services.

• The programming for the children who attend the Best Start programs is play-based and works with a developmental continuum which carries on into the new Kindergarten program.

• Many Boards have Best Start Hubs which are family centres in schools to begin to build the connections among home, school and community services which support healthy families and healthy child development.

Time to learn, grow and play.

• ELP is the Early Learning Program (full day kindergarten for 4 and 5 year old pupils) 

• The program will be phased in beginning September 2010 and will fully implemented by the 2015-2016 school year

THE BUZZ ON ELP

Enriched learning during the school day• OCT registered teachers and

ECE will work together in the classroom

Before and after school programs• An integrated before and after

program will be offered as an option for families.  This program is ECE run only.  Subsidies will be available

Stronger start on learning• Based on research that shows

this structure will have long term benefits both academically and socially

COMPONENTS OF THE ELP

TURN AND TALK

When we consider the framework,facilitating change and staff development:

 Where are the issues for principals who are

looking at implementation of the Early Larning Program in 2010?

ISSUES FOR PRINCIPALS

What are the roles of the teacher and the ECE when working together to

develop program and assess practice?

ISSUES FOR PRINCIPALS

Curriculum

• Currently the ELP is running on expectations contained in the 2006 document;

• A developmental continuum developed for the Best Start programs was developed to complement the document and will be built on for the ELP;

• A new document is being drafted to address program delivery, define terms like ‘play based learning’ and outline logistics of the ELP model.

ISSUES FOR PRINCIPALS

Best for Kids?

• Prep time is a tough thing for Kindergarten teachers now;• Class size and age mix means potential issues around safety

and care;• Equity for educators, equity for students;• Logistics of space ELP, extended program, personal materials.

Why?

Building our youth for the future!

The graduation rate was 79 per cent for the 2008-09 school year.

RESEARCH SAYS: High school dropouts cost Canada's social assistance programs and criminal justice system more than $1.3 billion annually

The public cost of social assistance amounts to an average of $4,000 a year for each person who drops out of high school, or a total of $969 million.

RESEARCH SAYS:

RESEARCH SAYS:

Costs to the criminal justice system total an average of $220 per dropout, or $350 million a year.

Those who quit high school lose also about $8,000 a year as a result of poorer health, which leads to lost income from illness and health-related expenses.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/brochure.pdf

• Duel Credit Programs

• Specialist High Skills Major

• Credit Recovery

• Transition to High School

• E-Learning

• School Work Transition Program

WHAT?Student Success is a paradigm that demonstrates an awareness that capable students sometimes can't learn in the traditional manner.  It acknowledges social, economic, health and learning circumstances which may lead students to disengage from school.   Student Success is intended to support those pupils in the system who are accountable but need alternative support structures to be successful.

This challenges all stakeholders:

• what does it look like to be accountable?

• are we preparing kids for the 'real world'?

• do we really believe all kids can learn?

• Dual credits began in Ontario in 2005.

• Students earn high school credits while studying at a local college or taking apprenticeship training.

• Students have an opportunity to sample college and gain credit in both secondary school and college.

• College credits are taught by college faculty member. 

• Successful students earn college credits and optional secondary credits.  Students are issued a college transcript.

• Course will be recognized if they choose to a program for which the course is a requirement.

• Dual credits give students the opportunity to sample post-secondary education, work in college labs, experience a new environment and build their confidence.

• Teachers and professors participating in the pilots report that students are more engaged in their studies, and have dramatically improved their academic achievement with the dual credit model.