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McGuinty Government Supports 159 Projects To Help Students Graduate
KITCHENER, ON, Nov. 30 /CNW/ - More high school students will graduate
through the increased support, extra guidance and unique learning
opportunities offered by Student Success Lighthouse projects, said Education
Minister Kathleen Wynne today.
"We know that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work in education,"
said Wynne at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute high school. "That's why we
are reaching every student through a variety of programs like the Student
Success Lighthouse projects that help students who struggle in the traditional
classroom."
The Ministry of Education has invested $12 million in 159 projects in
2006-07. These projects were developed by individual boards to meet the unique
challenges faced by their students, schools and communities.
"We are helping more students in Kitchener build confidence and learn
skills so they can focus on graduation," said Kitchener Centre MPP John
Milloy. "Lighthouse projects are a great example of how local innovation and
provincial support can create student-focused solutions within individual
communities."
At Forest Heights, about 400 students are participating in three Student
Success Lighthouse projects:
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- The Reintegrating-Engaging-Connecting program provides students
with a space where they can receive support and remain connected
to school, while dealing with issues that may result in
suspension.
- The New Horizons-Immigrant Youth program focuses on language and
skill development for new immigrants.
- The Career Explorations / Integrated Services Model program
includes a flexible and unique co-operative education option that
meets students' academic needs, and strengthens interpersonal and
problem solving skills.
Zeljka Stanivuk is a student in the Career Explorations / Integrated
Services Model program. She nearly dropped out of school, and credits the
school's integration worker, Tanya Dale, for helping her reengage in learning.
"She's the type of person that you simply can't disrespect. Little by little
she learned about me. She was the one I could turn to. She also helped my
family understand what I was going through."
Other Lighthouse projects running in Ontario schools this year include:
- House-building projects offered by the Catholic District School
Board of Eastern Ontario and Algoma District School Board
- High school classes being offered on college campuses including
manufacturing and construction courses at Mohawk College through
the Brant-Haldimand Norfolk District School Board
- Career development help for Grade 9 and 10 students in Noelville
by the Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario
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Innovative programs like these will help the McGuinty government achieve
its high school graduation target of 85 per cent of students by 2010-11 - a
significant increase from 68 per cent in 2003-04. When the target is achieved,
20,000 more students will graduate every year. Early results show Ontario
schools are on track to meet this target with 71 per cent of students
graduating in 2004-05.
This is the third year of the Student Success Lighthouse program. Last
year, students participating in Lighthouse projects achieved a 76 per cent
pass rate, with more than 21,000 credits earned.
This program is one of six innovative new initiatives at the heart of the
government's Student Success Strategy. Other initiatives in the strategy
include Student Success Teams, Grade 8-9 Transition Teams, Specialist
High-Skills Majors, expanded co-operative education and dual credits.
Disponible en français
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www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.ontario.ca/progress
Backgrounder
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CUSTOMIZED HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING TO REACH EVERY STUDENT
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The Ontario government's Student Success Strategy gives students a
greater opportunity to tailor their high school education to their individual
skills, goals and interests. This makes the learning environment more engaging
to all students and better prepares them to pursue the career that they want.
The strategy includes two main thrusts - providing support and resources for
high school students who are having difficulty completing their credits for
graduation, and providing all high school students with more learning
opportunities that match their future aspirations.
The reason for action is clear. In 2003-04, the number of students
graduating from high school had dropped to 68 per cent. The Student Success
Strategy is reversing this trend and helping more students build a better
future for themselves. The government has set an 85 per cent graduation rate
target by 2010-11 - a significant increase from 2003-04. This means 20,000
more students per year will graduate when the target is achieved.
Early Results Show Progress
The Student Success Strategy is already having a positive impact on
students - 71 per cent of high school students graduated in 2004-05. That
means more students have left high school in the past two years with a diploma
and a brighter future.
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Other recent results that demonstrate student achievement is on the rise:
- The pass rate on the Grade 10 literacy test increased from 72 to
84 per cent for English-language students and 78 to 81 per cent
for French-language students between 2002-03 and 2005-06
- Students earning all compulsory Grade 9 credits in their first
year increased from 71.6 per cent in 2003-04 to 73.1 per cent in
2004-05
- Grade 9 and 10 students in applied courses recorded an 84 per cent
pass rate last year, up from 81 per cent the previous year
- Twenty-two per cent more students took co-operative education in
2004-05 compared to 2003-04.
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SIX WAYS
The Ontario government has developed six innovative new programs that are
at the heart of the Student Success Strategy. They give high school students
more ways to accumulate credits to graduate, while improving the quality of a
high school education in the province.
Along with additional high school teachers and resources, Ontario's high
schools are being transformed to address the individual learning styles and
career interests of all students.
1. Specialist High Skills Majors
During the 2006/07 school year, 27 school boards are participating in the
launch of pilot Specialist High Skills Majors. The majors being offered are in
construction, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, primary industries
(agriculture, mining, forestry and landscaping), and arts and culture.
The majors allow students to focus on career paths that match individual
skills and interests. Each major is a bundle of six to 12 courses in a
selected sector of interest that match with postsecondary, apprenticeship or
workplace learning requirements.
The components for each major include credits for existing curriculum
including locally developed courses, co-operative education, workplace
learning and certifications recognized by the sector. When new equivalent
learning policies are adopted, majors may also recognize external credentials,
dual credits with postsecondary institutions and apprenticeship training
providers, and sector-recognized credentials.
Majors will also strengthen high school partnerships with employers,
postsecondary institutions and apprenticeship training providers. It will
allow community and business partners to deliver certifications and training
as part of a high school education. In some cases, students will be able to
reach ahead by earning one or more credits that can be applied to their high
school diploma and college certificates, college diplomas or apprenticeship
certification.
Students who complete a major can be confident that they leave high
school prepared with the knowledge, skills and industry-recognized
qualifications desired by employers, postsecondary institutions and training
providers.
2. Lighthouse Pilot Projects
There will be 159 new or expanded Lighthouse pilot projects in 2006-07 to
increase credit accumulation, reduce drop-out rates, link more programs with
postsecondary institutions and encourage students who left school to return
and complete their diploma. These innovative programs focus on credit
recovery, alternative education, student success in Grade 9 and 10, program
pathways to apprenticeships and the workplace, college connections and success
for targeted groups of students.
This initiative, now in its third year, was made possible through a
$12 million investment this year. Over the past two years, 130 new lighthouse
pilot projects were launched through grants totalling $36 million. Students
earned over 14,000 credits through these innovative local projects in 2004-05.
This rose to over 21,000 credits in 2005-06.
3. Dual Credits
An estimated 2,300 students are enrolled in 50 dual credit pilot programs
this year - up from the 14 dual credit pilot programs that ran in 2005-06 for
361 students.
These dual credit pilot programs allow high school students to earn a
number of credits by participating in apprenticeship training and college
courses that count towards their high school diploma, and college diploma,
college certificate or apprenticeship certification.
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and
Universities are working together to support the delivery of these courses in
both secondary and postsecondary settings.
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.
4. Expanded Co-operative Education
Two co-op credits earned after September 2005 can be applied to a
student's 18 compulsory credits required for graduation. Previously, students
earning co-op credits could only count them towards the 12 optional credits to
complete their full 30 credit requirement for the Ontario Secondary School
Diploma.
More students now have access to co-op placements with strong links to
classroom subject areas, while benefiting from the knowledge and skills gained
through the real-life work environment. This also gives more students a chance
to start working and 'test drive' career options.
Along with this change comes a move to develop stronger partnerships
between education, business, and community organizations - the goal of which
is to increase the number of co-ops, job placements and other experiential
learning opportunities for students.
5. Student Success Teams
Every high school in Ontario now has a team that includes a Student
Success Teacher, the principal, the guidance department head and the special
education department head and/or other appointed staff. Together, they
identify and support students who need extra help to succeed, provide more
options for learning and monitor student progress.
These teams are made possible through the hiring of 1,600 high school
teachers over the past two years, including 1,100 dedicated to student success
programs, through a $108 million government investment.
Each team works with school staff, students, parents and the community to
ensure more students earn the credits necessary to graduate.
6. Grade 8-9 Transition Plan
The plan implemented in September 2006 includes more teachers, intensive
professional development and improved tracking of struggling students and
their progress. These additional resources and supports are dedicated to
helping students at risk of dropping out during the transition from elementary
to secondary school.
It is estimated that the plan will help 20,000 Grade 8 students who are
entering high schools this September and are already at a high risk of
dropping out before graduation.
Regional professional development sessions about successful transitions
for students from Grade 8 to 9 were delivered by the ministry to
superintendents and Student Success Leaders from all district school boards in
2006.
Subsequent board-directed training sessions provided supports and
resources to 12,000 Student Success Teachers, principals and other Grade 8 and
9 educators.
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OTHER STUDENT SUCCESS STRATEGY COMPONENTS
- Providing training for principals and teachers to help them foster
a student success culture in schools.
- Establishing the Student Success Commission, composed of board and
teacher federation representatives, as an independent body to
advise the Minister of Education on how to implement educational
strategies, allocate resources and set program standards for the
Student Success Strategy.
- Facilitating stronger links between high schools and postsecondary
institutions, employers and community organizations.
- Revising the Grade 9 and 10 applied math curriculum.
- Over 200 new technological education courses and over 500 upgraded
courses, including hospitality, health care and computer
engineering, benefiting more than 300,000 students.
Disponible en français
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Valérie Poulin, Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632; Patricia MacNeil, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2676; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892
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