News from Literacy BC
The New School Project: Lessons Learned
For three years, Literacy BC and School District 36 (Surrey) operated a research and demonstration classroom for at-risk youth aged 15 to 16 with significant literacy difficulties. The youth had either dropped out of school or were highly likely to do so because of their low attendance, behavioural issues, and failure to complete previous grades.
The program was remarkably successful at accomplishing its goals. Students stayed in school, developed necessary skills, and moved back into traditional and alternative high school classes with a greatly increased likelihood of graduating. Because of its success, School District 36 institutionalized the program and doubled its size.
During March this year, New School research team members Jim Powrie and Heide Wrigley, with Literacy BC President, Diana Twiss traveled to six B.C. communities to present research from the New School Demonstration Project.
Presentations were held in Campbell River, Sechelt, Hazelton, Houston, Smithers and Vancouver. The presentations included a visual history of the school, video clips of students and parents and open discussion of the project research. The presentations were designed to engage practitioners in discussions about literacy challenges that face at-risk youth in their learning communities and how to adapt successful New School strategies and apply them to related but different learning circumstances.
giving a New School Presentation in Hazelton.