A three-year research project aiming to improve learning among students in kindergarten to Grade 2 in areas of high child poverty is back on track after some pandemic hiccups.
“When Children Succeed” launched in 2018 at seven Saint John schools: Glen Falls School, Princess Elizabeth School, Hazen White-St. Francis School, Seaside Park Elementary School, Centennial School, St. John the Baptist-King Edward School, and Prince Charles School.
Additional teachers have been added at all seven schools as part of the project.
The program came to a halt when in-person learning stopped in March 2020, but resumed last fall.
Superintendent Zoe Watson said after the first year and a half of the program, they learned they had to tighten up some of the data collection.
“So that has been done. We wanted to focus more on consistent ways of teaching reading and phonetic awareness in students,” Watson said.
Watson said they have concerns about the chronic absenteeism at these schools which is double the rate of other K-2 schools.
“In our elementary schools, the literacy block happens early in the morning so it’s very important that the students be there and be ready to learn when school starts,” Watson said.
Data from last fall showed students in grades 1 and 2 were behind, but by December it indicated students were on track to gain at least a years’ worth of learning by end of June.
Time spent learning from home this year will likely impact the data.
Watson said the district is very grateful for the support of their partners from Living Saint John, the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative, and the Department of Education.
“It’s an exciting project and we’re excited that it’s back on track for this school year,” Watson said.
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