Schools Receive Grant

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
2011EDUC0052-000643

June 2, 2011

Ministry of Education

Vancouver Island North schools benefit from innovation grant

PORT HARDY – The Vancouver Island North school district is receiving $12,500 through the Growing Innovation Program as one of the districts selected for a research project on how to boost student engagement and improve achievement for rural learners.

The Collaboration Without Boundaries project will compile a team of educators from across the district. Each educator is developing a unique approach to help increase the role of families in the education of their children. Family participation will be encouraged through a log of comments, both digital and verbal, as well as hits to online projects.

Last March, the Ministry of Education and the University of British Columbia (UBC), through the office of the Eleanor Rix Professorship for Rural Teacher Education, teamed up to launch Growing Innovation. The $300,000 provincewide program provides grants to the districts selected so they can bring their innovative ideas to life and enhance rural learning.

UBC graduate students will offer support and provide resources that may help districts and schools assess the effectiveness of their projects allowing schools throughout the province to learn from one another.

Quotes:

Minister of Education George Abbott –

“This pilot project will encourage and support a greater participation from families in the education system and welcome them as vital partners in the process.”

Vancouver Island North school board chair Leightan Wishart –

“We are very proud of the work being done here in the district in support of rural schools and families and we look forward to sharing our findings with educators across the province.”

Quick Facts:

· Funding will be divided among 4 different sites; Port Hardy Secondary and Eagle View Elementary in Port Hardy, AJ Elliott in Sointula and Alert Bay Elementary school.

· Sixty-one grant submissions for Growing Innovation funding were received from 36 rural districts. Seventeen were selected with a focus on their impact on students in rural communities, innovation, and potential for research.

· The research agreement between the Ministry of Education and UBC will see UBC graduate students guide and document research in the districts this fall. In May 2012, schools, districts and researchers will share information at a symposium at UBC.

Learn More:

Learn NowBC’s Rural Education Strategy:

www.learnnowbc.ca/educators/Rural_Education/