Napanee, ON - The work of the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board has been acknowledged in the 2021-22 Ontario Human Rights Commission's (OHRC) Annual Report, in its Education section.

As Year 2 of a 5-year Multi-Year Strategic Plan implementation ends, the board's Science of Reading professional development plan is well underway. This key action in the Achievement and Innovation Priority aligns very well with key recommendations in the OHRC's Right to Read Report.

Grade 2/3 students at Holy Name of Mary Catholic School in Marysville engage in a Science of Reading activity.

“ALCDSB curriculum and student services teams have made a remarkable contribution in the implementation of key actions and strategies in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Specifically, as a first step in our strategy, building the capacity of our school administrators and staff in understanding phonological and phonemic awareness, assessing it, and planning student-centred instruction using these results", said David DeSantis, Director of Education for the Board. See Tweet from @DavidDeSantis22, ALCDSB Director of Education here. 

Learn more about the ALCDSB's MYSP here. Learn more about the ALCDSB's MYSP here.

The Right to Read reinforces the value of well research-evidence based programming in Ontario classrooms. The inquiry found that by not using evidence-based approaches to teach students to read, Ontario's public education system was systematically failing students with reading disabilities (such as dyslexia) as an example.

About the Right to Read Inquiry

The Right to Read inquiry observed human rights issues faced by students with reading disabilities. When the Right to Read report on the inquiry was released in February 2022, the OHRC called for critical changes to Ontario's approach to early reading, in areas such as curriculum and instruction, screening, reading interventions, accommodations and professional assessments.

The Right to Read inquiry included over 150 recommendations to the Ministry of Education, school boards and faculties of education on how to address systemic issues that affect the right to learn to read. The inquiry has already resulted in major changes for vulnerable students across Ontario.

For more information about the Right to Read inquiry or to access the full OHRC report please visit:

www.ohrc.on.ca/en/reflect-reimagine-respond-results-%E2%80%93-annual-report-2021-2022