2011-2012 Georgian Triangle Literacy Service Plan 1 Acknowledgements Many thanks are extended to the Georgian Triangle Literacy Service Planning Committee for their dedication and assistance in preparing this report. Appreciation is expressed to the Board of Directors and staff of QUILL (Quality in Lifelong) Learning Network for their assistance and commitment to literacy planning. Debera Flynn, Executive Director The Georgian Triangle Literacy Service Planning Committee Lynn Hynd, Georgian College Lisa Wiley, Georgian College Roger Hannon, Georgian Learning Charlotte Parliament, Simcoe County District School Board Debera Flynn, QUILL Learning Network QUILL Learning Network 104 Catherine Street Box 1148 Walkerton, ON N0G 2VO Telephone: 519-881-4655 Toll free: 800-530-6852 Fax: 519-881-4638 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.quillnetwork.ca The QUILL Learning Network is funded by the Government of Ontario. The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario. 2 Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 2 Literacy and Basic Skills in the Georgian Triangle ........................................................ 5 Snapshot of activity in the Georgian Triangle ............................................................... 5 Highlights of Delivery in the QUILL Region ................................................................ 6 Environmental Scan .......................................................................................................... 8 Highlights and Results - Literacy Service Plan - 2009-2010 ......................................... 11 Age of Learners .................................................................................................................. 11 Gender of Learners ............................................................................................................ 12 Learners by Literacy Level ............................................................................................... 12 Source of Income ................................................................................................................ 13 Training Goals .................................................................................................................... 14 Status at Exit ...................................................................................................................... 14 Training Delivered ............................................................................................................ 15 Comparison of Student Contact Hours (SCH) .............................................................. 15 Academic Upgrading Partnership between Georgian College and Georgian Learning 17 Learner Satisfaction Survey Results for 2009 - 2010 ..................................................... 19 Literacy Service Plans for the Georgian Triangle ......................................................... 20 Georgian Learning - Collingwood/Wasaga Beach ...................................................... 20 The Learning Centres – Simcoe County District School Board .................................. 21 Georgian College - Collingwood Site ............................................................................. 24 Georgian College Wasaga Beach Partnership with Georgian Learning ................... 27 Gaps / Barriers in the Community .................................................................................. 29 Priorities for LBS Programs .............................................................................................. 30 Common Assessment ......................................................................................................... 30 Apprenticeship ................................................................................................................... 31 Second Career and Ontario Skills Development ........................................................... 32 E-channel Delivery .............................................................................................................. 33 Georgian Triangle LSP Committee Work Plan 2011 . .................................................... 34 3 Contents Appendix A ........................................................................................................................... 35 Significant Events in the History of Adult Literacy in Ontario ..................................... 36 What is Literacy .................................................................................................................... 38 Economic and Social Implications ..................................................................................... 40 Community Development .................................................................................................. 41 Literacy and Essential Skills ............................................................................................... 41 What is Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)? ........................................................................... 43 The Role of Regional Literacy Networks .......................................................................... 46 Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework Initiative ............................................ 51 Outcomes and Pathways ..................................................................................................... 52 Client Profiles ........................................................................................................................ 54 4 Literacy and Basic Skills in the Georgian Triangle There are sixteen regional learning network areas across the province of Ontario. Each of these areas has local geographic, community and economic impacts to consider when planning for future literacy service. While the functions of all literacy programs and networks are the same, the manner in which these agencies address local needs differs from region to region. The plan for literacy service is a result of considering local trends, impacts, gaps and needs. Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs in the Georgian Triangle funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities coordinate the delivery of quality learner centered, goal oriented accessible programs. Snapshot of activity in the Georgian Triangle In the 2009-2010 fiscal year programs received Budget Initiative Funding that allowed them to increase the delivery of LBS programming. In particular, they served 191 more clients, a 65% increase in delivery over 2008-2009. Also, they provided 25,700 Student Contact Hours (SCH), an 83% increase over the previous year. With eminent funding cuts, there will be gaps in delivery. There will be a 35% or more reduction in the number of clients served and SCH delivered in a region where 52% of the population over the age of 15 do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. Programs will not have the staffing contingent to deliver a quality LBS program. They will not have the funding to provide the technology to access E-Channel literacy programs. This region will need to put clients on wait lists if funding is cut. 5 Highlights of Delivery in the QUILL Region Literacy programs in Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth and the Georgian Triangle prepared this Literacy Service Plan for 2011-2012. In doing so, we compared the services delivered in 2007- 2008, when programs only had core funding, to 2009-2010, where they received additional funding at the beginning of the fiscal year. We also reviewed midyear stats for the years 2009 and 2010. Highlights for year ending March 31, 2010: • 2457 learners served, a 46% increase over 2008 • 205,910 student contact hours delivered, a 20% increase over 2008 • 115% of student contact hours, as per MTCU contracts • 126% of learners were served, as per MTCU contracts • 72% of learners exiting LBS programs were working or engaged in further training and education • learners served include laid off workers, Second Career candidates, youth, employed workers, as well as Ontario Works and Employment Insurance recipients • additional funding allowed LBS programs to o increase hours of delivery o offer focused workshops e.g. college delivered writing and math programs to assist Second Career clients for post secondary o reach out to the community and build new partnerships, e.g. program on reserve is working with health services to reach more clients o update technology and equipment o provide professional development opportunities, and in particular Bridges Out of Poverty training was made available for most of the programs in the QUILL region along with stakeholders such as the United Way, Children’s Alliance, school boards, Employment Services and Ontario Works staff o hire more staff o increase salaries to meet 2010 rates, many program staff did not have a wage 6 Highlights for midyear, September 30, 2010: • 79% of learners have been served • 41% of the student contact hours have been met • programs are on track to exceed the number of learners contracted by MTCU and to meet or exceed the number of student contact hours Additional Funding Additional funding has benefited residents of the QUILL region. It ensures that the workers of tomorrow have the skills needed to work and compete in the job market. Continued funding will provide LBS programs with the opportunity to support a viable and prosperous Ontario. Outcomes (should core funding return to 1998 levels): Programs