Description:
Too many young Canadians are failing to acquire the literacy skills they need to succeed. To raise the literacy level of our population, Canada needs to have a coherent, evidence-based National Strategy for Early Literacy, suggests the following report.
A range of education, literacy and public interest organizations came together to lead the National Strategy for Early Literacy (NSEL) initiative, which was built on the expertise and administrative resources of the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network (CLLRNet).
The National Strategy for Early Literacy report synthesizes key findings from 15 policy research papers and an extensive public consultation process. The report concludes with specific recommendations regarding how current policies and practices can be modified to improve literacy outcomes, and how these can be monitored publicly.
Findings include:
- A significant barrier to literacy improvement is the inability of many Canadian children to access high-quality early childhood education and care programs.
- One in four Canadian children who enter Grade 1 is significantly behind his/her peers.
- Approximately one-fifth of Canadian children aged four to five show delays in vocabulary development.
-In addition to the need for a comprehensive, universal ELCC system to address the early learning needs of Canadian children who do not receive appropriate support and stimulation within their home, there is an urgent need to improve literacy-related instruction in Canadian schools.
- Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) children are especially vulnerable to poor language and literacy outcomes and must receive opportunities for participation in enriched early learning programs.