Smaller Classes Key To Student Success In Early Grades

    LONDON, ON, June 27 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government's new class-size
tracker shows parents how class sizes in kindergarten to Grade 3 are
shrinking, said Education Minister Sandra Pupatello.
    "We are on the side of Ontario families who want the best public
education for their children," said Pupatello. "That's why we developed the
class-size tracker to show parents the progress school boards are making.
Reducing class sizes in the primary grades is an important part of our
strategy to improve achievement in reading, writing and math."
    This is the first time class-by-class data has been published for each of
Ontario's 32,000 kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms in 4,000 elementary
schools. Parents can check class sizes for any school or district school board
in the province.
    The class-size tracker is simple to use, making it easy to find
information quickly. Everyone can access the class-size tracker by going to
www.edu.gov.on.ca and following the links.
    Currently, the tracker shows data for the 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06
school years. It reflects actual enrolments as of October 31 of each year. The
tracker will be updated annually as school boards report new data to the
Ministry of Education.
    Over the last two years the Ministry of Education has provided funding to
school boards to hire almost 2,400 more teachers, in more than 2,100 schools,
to reduce class sizes in junior kindergarten to Grade 3.
    Students in smaller classes receive more attention, achieve greater
success in the early grades and are more likely to go on to reach their
potential in high school and beyond.
    To date, 48 per cent of kindergarten to Grade 3 classes have 20 or fewer
students. The number of classes with 25 students or more has dropped by half -
from 25 to 12 per cent over the past two years.
    All boards are expected to meet the target of 20 or fewer students in 90
per cent of primary classes by 2007-08. For the 2006-07 school year, boards
are required to submit detailed plans to the Ministry of Education
demonstrating their progress in meeting the primary class-size cap.
    On June 12, Pupatello announced an additional $600 million investment in
Ontario's public education system for 2006-07. This brings total investment in
education to $17.5 billion. Funding for the elementary level includes:

    <<
    -   $95 million for 1,200 more primary teachers so our youngest students
        benefit from more individual attention
    -   $50 million to finance $700 million of capital funding that will
        accommodate reduced primary class sizes.
    -   $71 million for 980 new specialist teachers in areas such as music,
        phys-ed and the arts.
    >>

    "We've made big investments in education and we have an even bigger
responsibility to bring greater accountability and transparency to the people
of Ontario," said Pupatello. "Parents and everyone involved in education need
to see that our investments are delivering results for students right across
the province."

    <<
    Disponible en français

                              www.edu.gov.on.ca
                         www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
    >>


    <<
    Backgrounder
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       CLASS-SIZE TRACKER BRINGS OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY TO MCGUINTY
                   GOVERNMENT'S CLASS-SIZE REDUCTION PLAN
    >>

    For the first time, parents can track school boards' progress in reducing
primary class sizes with the online class-size tracker.
    Parents can check class sizes for any school or district school board in
the province. The class-size tracker is simple to use, making it easy to find
information quickly. Everyone can access the class-size tracker by going to
www.edu.gov.on.ca and following the link.
    This is the first time class-by-class data has been published for each of
Ontario's 32,000 kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms in 4,000 elementary
schools.
    Data in the class-size Tracker comes from annual reports of student
enrolment completed by every school and submitted to the Ministry of
Education.
    Currently, the tracker shows data for the 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06
school years. It reflects actual enrolments as of October 31 of each year. In
many cases, enrolment numbers fluctuate throughout the year as families move
in and out of communities.
    The tracker will be updated annually as school boards report new data to
the Ministry of Education.

    BOOSTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN READING, WRITING AND MATH

    The McGuinty government is working toward implementing a "real cap" in
90 per cent of kindergarten to Grade 3 classes by the 2007-08 school year.
This means that by 2007-08, at least 90 per cent of primary classes will have
20 or fewer students.
    The remaining 10 per cent of classes will have no more than 23 students.
This flexibility helps boards accommodate enrolment changes, reduce the need
for split grades, and avoid unnecessary transportation of students.
    Reducing class sizes will support the government's goal to have 75 per
cent of 12-year-old students achieving at or above the provincial standard by
2007-08. Sixty-two per cent of Ontario students met or exceeded the provincial
standard in 2004-05 and 54 per cent achieved that level in 2002-03.
    Students in smaller classes receive more attention, achieve greater
success in the early grades and are more likely to go on to reach their
potential in high school and beyond.
    Two years into the Primary Class-Size Reduction Plan, nearly half (48 per
cent) of kindergarten to Grade 3 classes have 20 or fewer students. The number
of classes with 25 students or more has dropped by half - from 25 to 12 per
cent over the past two years.
    All boards are expected to meet the target of 20 or fewer students in
90 per cent of primary classes by 2007-08. For the 2006-07 school year, boards
are required to submit detailed plans to the Ministry of Education
demonstrating their progress in meeting the primary class-size cap.
    The McGuinty government is investing another $95 million this year for
1,200 more primary teachers, $71 million for 980 specialist teachers and
$700 million in capital funding to accommodate reduced primary class sizes.

    GRANTS FOR STUDENT NEEDS

    Next September will mark the third full year of the McGuinty government's
extraordinary four-year funding increase for education in Ontario.
    On June 12, the Minister of Education announced a $600 million investment
for the 2006-07 school year through the Grants for Student Needs, the main
source of funding for Ontario's publicly funded schools.
    As announced in the 2006 Ontario Budget in March, there will also be
$200 million more in 2006-07 outside the Grants for Student Needs that will
target improved literacy and math levels, French-language programs,
professional development for teachers and principals, Student Success
initiatives, parent engagement, and safe and healthy schools.
    Since coming to office, the McGuinty government has increased per-pupil
funding by almost $1,600 - an increase of 21 per cent.

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    Disponible en français

                              www.edu.gov.on.ca
                         www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
    >>

For further information: Valérie Poulin, Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632; Tanya Blazina, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2746; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892