Canadian Council on Learning | Conseil Canadien sur l'Apprentissage

Ontario education strategy is improving secondary school learning

Canadian Council on Learning report gives high marks to Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy

January 15, 2009 Ottawa—The Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) finds that the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy is helping to improve the learning conditions for—and the success of—secondary students in Ontario.

The Strategy, which helps grades 7-12 students to tailor their education to their individual strengths, goals and interests was originally designed to meet five goals:

• increase graduation rates
• support positive outcomes for all students
• provide students with new and relevant learning opportunities
• build on students' strengths and interests
• ease the transition between elementary and secondary school

CCL’s report lists a number of benefits as a result of the Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy, including:

• a steady increase in provincial graduation rates, from 68% in 2003–2004 to 75% in 2006–2007
• improved internal communication within schools, student engagement and teaching practices
• improvements in student monitoring and tracking as well as in data use
• increased number of program options, scheduling flexibility and access to human resources (to support student success)
• smoother transitions from secondary school to post-secondary education and/or work and between the elementary and secondary levels

“CCL is pleased to have had the opportunity to review the Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy,” said Dr. Paul Cappon, President and CEO of the Canadian Council on Learning. “I believe that other jurisdictions pursuing school improvement will find much of interest in what Ontario is doing.”

"Over the last four years, Student Success Leaders and our Student Success programs like Expanded Co-op, Dual Credit and Specialist High Skills Majors have helped an additional 22,500 students graduate. These programs are working because they focus on the student and help meet individual learning styles and interests," said Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Education.

Please visit this website for more information about Ontario's Student Success programs or the Student Success/ Learning to 18 Strategy. View the evaluation report.

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The Canadian Council on Learning is an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded through an agreement with Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Its mandate is to promote and support evidence-based decisions about learning throughout all stages of life, from early childhood through to the senior years.

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