March 9, 2020
Announcement: Support for Students with Dyslexia

To: 8 online petitioners; 9 +1 email survey respondents; 6 mail canvassers; 171 +11 reporters and commentators; 26 trustee candidates and trustees; 26 of the many voters who are very concerned about our "one-size-fits-all" school boards; and 210 +8 generally interested folks including members of the Social Mavrik Federation.

From: Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation

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CAMPBELL RIVER: Bob Bray connects the search in Ontario for publicly funded dyslexia services with the solutions offered by a charter school.
Support for Students with Dyslexia
The search for dyslexia services in Ontario's publicly funded schools is underway.

Two organizations are at work.

The Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (ONBIDA) issued a position statement in March 2019 calling on the Ontario government "to remedy the systematic discrimination that student with dyslexia currently experience in the Ontario education system."

In October 2019 the Ontario Human Rights Commission launched an inquiry "into human rights issues that affect students with reading disabilities in Ontario's public education system" calling it the Right To Read.

Right to Read is a public inquiry to find our if students with a reading disability have meaningful access to education

The ONBIDA's position statement is a 20-page document with many quotable observations. Here's two of them.

Page 3 "Parents discover that there are long waits (months or years} for psycho-educational assessments in the school system so, if they can afford it, they pay for it privately. Similarly, they discover that very effective interventions are available, but only from private reading specialists."
Page 5 "Currently, dyslexia is typically not acknowledged or identified in Ontario schools. ... confusion over terminology (e.g. avoidance of the term 'dyslexia') makes it difficult for parents and students to access the information, support and solutions they need."

One solution available in Alberta but not yet available in Ontario is legislated permission for motivated individuals to voluntarily from a publicly funded charter school.

Having a charter school channel in the education system makes it possible for knowledgeable people to create a school for special needs students without having to commit Herculean efforts to change the entrenched system.

When Ontario legislators pass the enabling legislation, the Minister of Education will have the authority to allow the voluntary formation of up to 20 charter schools. In this way a special needs solution is made available at no extra cost to the Minister's budget. The students who would have been funded in their neighborhood school would continue to be funded in their charter school.

A charter school could be started by parents, or by teachers, or by a principal, or by all three. The first step is to register as a non-profit society. Then a charter is negotiated with the Minister of Education. The charter comes with public funding so that the society can recruit a like-minded principal who hires like-minded teachers. This group undertakes the complicated but unfettered process of developing a school culture that ensures each student's instructional needs are met.

I put the above thoughts into an info-graphic that can be seen in the Facebook section towards the end of this announcement.
Public Independent Charter Schools - a survey
The email questionnaire can be inspected by clicking on the blue button or the underlined link below.
New respondents are shown in red lettering

So far 10 citizens in British Columbia have emailed their position on independent publicly funded K-12 charter schools and the results are shown below.
Respondents'
Province



---------------------
British
Columbia
---------------------
Saskatchewan

---------------------
Ontario

---------------------
Allow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools

-------------------------
SUPPORT = 9 + 1
OPPOSE = 0
-------------------------
SUPPORT = 0
OPPOSE = 0
-------------------------
SUPPORT = 0
OPPOSE = 0
-------------------------
Respondent Demographics
Average Age
Number of Children
Number of Grandchildren
Number of Great Grandchildren
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age=69 C=26 GC=58 GGC=4
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
Avg Age=0 C=0 GC=0 GGC=0
--------------------------------------------------
An easier-to-read summary of survey results can be seen here.
Ontario Charter Schools - a petition
This online petition includes a history of charter schools in Canada and was viewed 28 times in the week of Strike Day 28; 60 times in the week of Strike Day 27; 34 times in the week of Strike Day 26; 52 times during Strike Days 21 to 25; 89 times during Strike Days 16 to 20; 93 times during Strike Days 11 to 15; 110 times during Strike Days 6 to 10; and 93 times in the week of Strike Day 5. The names of its signatories can be inspected by clicking on the blue button or the underlined link below.
New petitioners are shown in red lettering

So far 30 +1 citizens in Ontario and British Columbia have added their name and address to this petition to call on the Ontario Government to allow charter schools in Ontario.
Petitioners'
Province


---------------------





Ontario








---------------------



British
Columbia



---------------------
A ll ow Ministry
To Approve
Up To 20 Public
Charter Schools
-------------------------





SUPPORT = 21








------------------------




SUPPORT = 9 + 1



-------------------------
Petitioner Demographics


Name of City or Town
--------------------------------------------------
Bowmanville = 1
Cochrane = 1
London = 1
Malahide = 1
Mississauga = 1
North York = 1
Oshawa = 1
Ottawa = 1
Sarnia = 1
St. Catherines = 1
Thorold = 1
Toronto = 8
Union = 1
Welland = 1
--------------------------------------------------
Campbell River = 1
Chilliwack = 2
Courtenay = 1
North Saanich = 1
North Vancouver = 1
Qualicum Beach + 1
Vancouver = 1
Victoria = 2
--------------------------------------------------
School Board Schools = Education Instability
Updates are shown in red lettering

Saskatchewan School Board Elementary and High Schools
  • 18 Secular School Boards
  • 8 Catholic School Boards
  • 1 Francophone School Board
  • Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
  • 13,500 teachers
  • STF teachers opposed to strike action: 1,270
  • Issue #1 is a raise
  • STF asks for 8% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 4% over 3 years plus signing bonus
  • February 11 - 48 hours notice requirement is in effect to begin job action

Ontario School Board High Schools
  • 31 Secular Boards
  • 596 High School principals
  • Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
  • 60,000 teachers and education workers
  • OSSTF teachers opposed to strike action: 1,350
  • Issue #1 is a raise
  • OSSTF asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Issue #2 is more benefits
  • OSSTF asks for a 7% increase
  • Minister of Education offers a 4% increase
  • Issue #3 is hiring new teachers based on seniority of substitute teachers
  • Strike Day 1 - Wednesday, December 4
  • Strike Day 2 - Wednesday, December 10, against 9 School Boards
  • Strike Day 3 - Wednesday, December 17, against 10 School Boards
  • Strike Day 4 - Wednesday, January 8, against 8 School Boards
  • Strike Day 5 - Wednesday, January 15, against 16 School Boards
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21, against 13 School Boards
  • Strike Day 17 - Tuesday, February 4, against 10 School Boards
  • Strike Day 24 - Thursday, February 13, against 9 School Boards
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 27 - Friday, February 28, against 16 School Boards
  • Strike Day 28 - Thursday, March 5, against 9 School Boards

Ontario S chool Board Elementary School s
  • 31 Secular Boards
  • 2,526 Elementary School principals
  • Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
  • 83,000 teachers and education workers
  • ETFO teachers opposed to strike action: 830
  • Issue #1 is a raise
  • ETFO asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Issue #2 is more benefits
  • ETFO asks for a 7% increase
  • Minister of Education offers a 4% increase
  • Strike Day 6 - Monday, January 20 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 8 - Wednesday, January 22 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 9 - Thursday, January 23 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 10 - Friday, January 24 against 2 Boards
  • Strike Day 11 - Monday, January 27 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 12 - Tuesday, January 28 against 5 Boards
  • Strike Day 13 - Wednesday, January 29 against 4 Boards
  • Strike Day 14 - Thursday, January 30, against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 15 - Friday, January 31, against 2 Boards
  • Strike Day 16 - Monday, February 3, against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 17 - Tuesday, February 4, against 8 Boards plus 1 Authority
  • Strike Day 18 - Wednesday, February 5, against 9 Boards plus 1 Centre
  • Strike Day 19 - Thursday, February 6, province-wide
  • Strike Day 20 - Friday, February 7, against 8 Boards plus 6 Authorities
  • Strike Day 21 - Monday, February 10 against 10 Boards and 1 Authority
  • Strike Day 22 - Tuesday, February 11, province-wide
  • Strike Day 23 - Wednesday, February 12 against 7 Boards, 6 Authorities
  • Strike Day 24 - Thursday, February 13, against 14 Boards and 1 Centre
  • Strike Day 25 - Friday, February 14 against 3 Boards
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide

Ontario School Board French Schools
  • 4 Secular Boards
  • 146 Secular French School principals
  • 8 Catholic Boards
  • 311 Catholic French School principals
  • Association des enseigantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens
  • 10,500 members
  • AEFO teachers opposed to strike action: 315
  • Issue #1 is a raise
  • AEFO asks for 6% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Issue #2 is more benefits
  • AEFO asks for a 7% increase
  • Minister of Education offers a 4% increase
  • Strike Day 24 - Thursday, February 13, province-wide
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 28 - Thursday, March 5, province-wide

Ontario School Board English Catholic Schools
  • 29 English Catholic Boards
  • 1,338 English Catholic School principals
  • Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
  • 45,000 members
  • OECTA teachers opposed to strike action: 1,305
  • Issue #1 is a raise
  • OECTA asks for 6% over 3 years but accepts 3% over 3 years
  • Minister of Education offers 3% over 3 years
  • Issue #2 is more benefits
  • OECTA asks for a 7% increase
  • Minister of Education offers a 4% increase
  • Strike Day 7 - Tuesday, January 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 17 - Tuesday, February 4, province-wide
  • Strike Day 26 - Friday, February 21, province-wide
  • Strike Day 28 - Thursday, March 5, province-wide

Ontario Ministry of Education Vouchers
  • Strike Day 5, Jan 15, vouchers announced today - 12,000 applications received
  • Strike Day 6, Jan 20 - 130,000 applications received
  • Strike Day 14, Jan 30 - 248,000 applications received: 17% of eligible parents
  • Strike Day 27; Feb 28 - 756,000 applications received: 52% of eligible parents
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Contact:
Bob Bray, President, Social Mavrik Federation
Phone: 250-900-2422
Mail: 422-1434 Ironwood Street, Campbell River, British Columbia V9W 5T5
Email: bob.bray@socialmavrikbc.ca
Website: socialmavrikbc.ca
The Social Mavrik Federation is a registered society in British Columbia dedicated to cultural politics through endorsing MP / MLA / Trustee candidates and supporting thoughtful petitions, as directed by its members.
Facebook:
I have posted the image below on my Facebook page. I invite you to visit it at facebook.com/bob.bray.334 and, if you do, you are welcome to give it a like, and/or a share and/or a comment.
Click here to see a larger version of the above image.
Twitter:
My twitter handle is bobbrayCR.

A recent tweet and image :
Bob Bray @BobBrayCR · Mar 5
Day 28 Teacher strike in Ontario. Issue #1 teachers ask 6% raise over 3 years and Ontario Minister of Ed offers 3% over 3 years. #onpoli #ETFOstrong #osstf #aefo #oecta #cdnpoli Sask teachers ask 8% over 3 yrs. #stf #skpoli Survey mentioned below is here: https://socialmavrikbc.ca/surveys/twenty
Click here to see a larger version of the above image.
As of March 8th this tweet had been seen 1,002 times with 35 engagements.
Backgrounders:
Topics covered in previous Announcements: