Right to Read Inquiry/Report
In October 2019, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) initiated an inquiry into challenges faced by students with reading disabilities in Ontario’s public education system. Throughout the inquiry, the OHRC heard from students, parents/guardians, organizations, educators, school boards, as well as other professionals as to their experiences and expertise in the area of learning and teaching students to read. On February 28, 2022, the OHRC released its findings from the
Right to Read public inquiry.
The inquiry focused on five overall areas, including:
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curriculum and instruction (emphasizing structured literacy);
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early screening;
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evidence-based reading intervention programs;
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appropriate accommodations; and,
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timely availability of professional assessments.
The OHRC summarized 157 recommendations in the report, including recommendations to the Ministry of Education, school boards, and faculties of education on how to address systemic issues that impact students learning to read.
The SCDSB is committed to implement effective and efficient reading programs and interventions that maximize available funding to ensure students learn to read. The SCDSB developed short, medium, and long-term actions to address the recommendations of the report. Specific supports implemented by the SCDSB to support early reading success include school based-reading facilitators, early screening for all students in Year 2 Kindergarten to Grade 2, and structured classroom instruction focusing on foundational reading skills, as well as tiered interventions for students requiring additional supports.