Funding to Support Students in Reading and Writing

Nova Scotia school boards have received $1 million to assist students who need more help with reading and writing as they move into junior high.

"Our literacy assessment showed that the vast majority of Grade 6 students are doing well in reading and writing, and we're supporting those who need more help," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "The students who need extra help are getting it now, from their Grade 6 teachers. This investment will go to junior high schools, so that when these students arrive in September, they will continue to get the support they need."

School boards will allocate the $1 million to schools based on the number of Grade 7 students needing support at each school in September. The amount of funding per board is:

• Annapolis Valley Regional School Board - $108,000
• Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Board - $138,000
• Chignecto Central Regional School Board - $175,000
• Conseil scolaire acadien provincial - $50,000
• Halifax Regional School Board - $356,000
• South Shore District School Board - $48,000
• Tri-County District School Board - $64,000
• Strait Regional School Board - $60,000.

The $1 million was announced in the 2004-05 budget. Decisions on how to use the funding will be made at each school, based on the needs of individual students.

School staff will seek input from the school advisory council or other parent group and undertake activities through the school's improvement plan to help students with reading and writing.

Schools may choose to use their funding for more books or other teaching resources or for substitute teachers to give classroom and resource teachers more time to plan and to work one-on-one with students.

The provincial elementary literacy assessment is part of the province's Learning for Life plan. The test was written for the first time in October 2003. It showed that 89 per cent of students are meeting expectations in reading and 81 per cent are doing so in writing.