READNOW BC INCLUDES HOST OF PROGRAMS

ReadNow BC, the Province’s new $27-million literacy plan, includes a wide range of programs. Details follow on some of the programs in the first phase of ReadNow BC:

Literacy Now

Literacy Now, part of 2010 Legacies Now, works with individual communities to meet local literacy needs and create a culture that celebrates learning and reading. By encouraging new literacy initiatives, alliances, programs and collaboration, Literacy Now increases local access to reading programs and services and helps British Columbians of all ages meet their literacy goals. Literacy Now also provides provincial leadership for the Parents As Literacy Supporters (PALS) program, which connects young families with the school system. The Ministry of Education contributed $5 million to Literacy Now in 2006 as part of its commitment to support community literacy. This additional $5 million provided through ReadNow BC marks a new investment.

Community Adult Literacy Program

The Ministry of Advanced Education funds community-based adult literacy programs around the province to help people learn the skills they need for life management, further education and employment. In 2006-07, $1.4 million is supporting adult literacy projects, offered by literacy organizations in partnership with B.C. public colleges, university-colleges and Thompson Rivers University. Through ReadNow BC, another $1 million is being invested in expanding the Community Adult Literacy Program in 2007-08, with increased emphasis on family and Aboriginal literacy.

Early Learning Grants

This $12 million to enhance children’s early learning will provide for the purchase of early learning library materials for parents or caregivers, additional library and learning materials for preschool-aged children, preschool-appropriate play equipment for schools, supplies for early learning programs, and appropriate learning materials for early learning programs with an emphasis on Aboriginal culture. The grants will also allow for minor renovations to school district spaces needed to accommodate early leaning activities, training for staff and volunteers, and further activities in school districts related to Ready, Set, Learn and other pre-literacy programs for young children.

StrongStart Early Learning Centres

StrongStart centres offer a free drop-in program for parents or caregivers and their children, helping preschool-age children develop pre-reading skills and get ready for kindergarten. Qualified early childhood educators lead activities – including stories, music and art – to help children grow linguistically, physically and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like environment. Centres are located in schools with unused and underutilized spaces, turning the challenge of declining enrolment into an opportunity. The Province recently invested $1.4 million to open 16 StrongStart centres. Now, as part of ReadNow BC, the Province is investing another $3.6 million and expanding the StrongStart program to include nine more centres by the end of this school year, with additional centres opening throughout British Columbia by July 2008 for a total StrongStart centre investment of $5 million.

Ready, Set, Learn

Ready, Set, Learn is a kindergarten readiness program for three-year-olds and their parents. At a typical Ready, Set, Learn open house, a teacher reads a story to the children and parents or caregivers, and then each preschooler receives a kit that parents or caregivers use at home to stimulate early language development. Last year, the program was offered in 1,071 schools and served more than 17,000 soon-to-be students. Ready, Set, Learn can continue for a third year due to this new $3.5-million investment.

ReadNow BC DVDs and Booklets

The Ministry of Education currently produces a Reading for Families K-1 booklet to help parents boost their children’s literacy levels. Through ReadNow BC, this resource will be expanded into a series that also includes Reading for Families 2-3 and Reading for Families 4-5. Producing a DVD for families on reading strategies will give even more parents the know-how to bring reading into their home. The ministry plans to make the DVDs available through public libraries.

1-888-READ234

This toll-free reading hotline will provide British Columbians with details on how to access literacy programs and services. The hotline is expected to be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Translation services should be able to accommodate Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Farsi, French, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese, and more.

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Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

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