A report shows that 88 per cent of struggling readers who participated in a new literacy intervention in the 2008-2009 school year were reading at or above grade level by the end of June, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan.
“The major investments we are making in early literacy are showing positive results. The Primary Literacy Intervention Program (PLIP) is an excellent example of how new early literacy interventions and specialized resources are helping struggling readers to catch up with their peers and continue to progress in the classroom,” said Minister Greenan.
The Primary Literacy Intervention Program was introduced last year for students in grades 2 and 3 who are reading and writing below grade level. It is delivered by trained intervention teachers who work intensively with groups of four students in uninterrupted blocks over a period of 25 consecutive days.
Of the 152 students who participated in the program in 2008-2009, 88 per cent were reading at or above grade level at the end of the school year. Overall, 21 per cent were reading above grade level, 67 per cent were reading at grade level and 12 per cent had not met grade level expectations. Of the 12 per cent of students who did not meet grade level, nine per cent were just one level below expectations.
“We are extremely encouraged by these results because we know that when a child is not reading at grade level by the end of Grade 3, the child will likely continue to struggle in the classroom and lack confidence in his or her ability to learn,” said Minister Greenan. “The PLIP program is an excellent example of how high quality reading instruction in the early grades can prevent reading difficulties that block further learning.”
The program was made possible through new annual investments of approximately $270,000 which funded PLIP teachers, specialized training and classroom resources.
In 2008-2009, the pilot program was introduced at 17 elementary schools. This year, it is being offered at 19 schools in both the Eastern School District and the Western School Board. A similar program is offered for students in French programs. An evaluation of the program indicates exceptional academic gains by students and high levels of satisfaction with the program among students, teachers and parents. The report is available at www.edu.pe.ca.