16 Ontario publicly-funded schools have been selected to receive help in an effort to improve reading in the primary grades. This is part of the Ontario government’s $5 million fund to elevate students' reading skills through teams set up within each school. The school improvement team will include the school principal, teachers, a school council representative and a community representative with the assistance of early literacy specialists. Ontario’s Education Minister Janet Ecker made this announcement recently at on of the 16 chosen schools.

The Government’s strategy is to improve the reading achievement of JK to Grade 3 students, as measured by the province-wide Grade 3 test, and report annually to parents on the school's progress. According to a recent Ontario Ministry of Education press release, the $24 million in funding will be allocated to:
• training for elementary principals and lead teachers on how to use target setting and assessment of students' reading skills to provide better instruction;
• additional resources for selected schools that need extra help. The government will set up school improvement teams of specialists to work with these selected schools so their students can succeed;
• purchases of student learning resources to support Early Reading. www.edu.gov.on.ca

School boards in the Toronto area are facing an unexpected shortage of teachers. Surprise increased enrolment has created a hiring frenzy within some of the boards and the expedited building of new schools. Hardest hit are the boards on the peripheral of the Toronto area where population growth has exceeded available services.

All boards are reporting difficulties in finding qualified French and computer science teachers. Some are faced with hiring uncertified instructors and others not fluent in French. This drought of qualified teachers could be apparent for some time to come until new schools are completed and more become certified instructors. www.edhunters.org

The Education Directory of Schools and Boards is a listing of schools, boards, ministry offices, faculties of education and other useful addresses across Canada. The Ontario edition with 6,000 schools listed comes in two formats, CD-ROM version and printed cerlox-bound book. The Canadian edition with over 15,000 schools is available only on CD. The October 2001 version is now available.

The Education Directory of Schools and Boards serves as an excellent daily resource for those in the Education industry. The Useful Addresses categories consist of: Athletic Scholarships, Attractions & Entertainment, Book & Magazine Publishers, Book & Software Publishers, Computers & Office Technology, Educational Travel & Tours, Information & Research, Music, Online Learning, Organizations for Schools, Organizations for Teachers, School Supplies, Sports, and Students Only. www.edunetconnect.com