B.C.'s Grade 4 students are among the world's top readers at their grade level and had the highest average score in Canada, according to a just-released international report.

In 2011, 45 countries and nine Canadian provinces took part in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), one of the world's most influential global assessments of reading literacy among young students. B.C. students performed very well in PIRLS, achieving an average score significantly above both the international and Canadian averages. B.C. was recognized as one of the top seven jurisdictions in the world.

The PIRLS study provides participating countries and jurisdictions with comparative international information on how well students can read after four years of elementary school. Grade 4 was chosen for the study because it marks the transition point at which students already have learned to read and are now using reading to learn. By Grade 4, reading skills become the main tool that enables and supports most other learning in school.

To further strengthen reading skills for young learners in B.C., the Ministry of Education recently appointed Maureen Dockendorf as superintendent of reading. Dockendorf is working with every school district to improve reading skills among young students.

As part of BC's Education Plan, the ministry has also dedicated an additional $10.7 million to advance early reading strategies and practices for kindergarten-to-Grade 3 students.

Quotes:

Don McRae, Minister of Education -

"As a teacher and a parent myself, I'm delighted with reading achievements of our Grade 4 students. For more than a decade, we've made significant investments in early literacy programs, and as this study shows, we're seeing very positive results. Many thanks to B.C.'s teachers and parents for helping to build the reading skills of B.C.'s youngest learners."

Jane Thornthwaite, Parliamentary Secretary for Student Support and Parent Engagement -

"Even before children start school, parents are their first teachers. The study shows the importance of parents reading to their children at an early age and how it influences their future reading success. Engaged parents who foster reading-friendly homes are making a real positive difference in the reading achievement of their children."

Maureen Dockendorf, B.C.'s superintendent of reading -

"We're working hard to create a supportive culture of reading in B.C. schools and to increase the number of engaged, successful readers among our young learners. By ensuring more of our primary students are reading for enjoyment and reading for information, our goal is to improve life chances for all children."

Quick Facts:

• Approximately 325,000 students worldwide participated in the survey, including 23,000 Canadian students from 1,000 schools.

• In B.C., 2,647 students at 148 schools were surveyed.

• The PIRLS survey reports that B.C. students have high levels of enjoyment of reading and self-confidence in reading compared to the Canadian and international averages.

• High levels of enjoyment of reading and self-confidence in reading are both associated with higher achievement scores.

• In B.C., parents reported engaging in high levels of literacy-related activities with their child before he or she started school, and this high level of engagement translated into higher levels of student achievement.

• The B.C. Ministry of Education invests over $28 million in literacy-related programs annually.

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested more than $1.5 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, including pre-literacy and early learning programs.

Learn More:

PIRLS report: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/assessment/nat_int_pubspirls.htm

Changing Results for Young Readers: http://changingresultsforyoungreaders.bclibraries.ca/

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963

BACKGROUNDER

B.C.'s Grade 4 students among world's top readers

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international assessment that measures trends in reading achievement of Grade 4 students as well as policies and practices related to literacy. PIRLS is the only international program that assesses reading achievement by Canadian students in the early years of their education.

The PIRLS survey focuses on two main reading purposes: reading for literary experience, and reading to acquire and use information. In addition to reading tests for Grade 4 students, the study also included background questionnaires for students, teachers, principals and parents to collect additional information on community, school and home factors.

Top 10 countries or jurisdictions in 2011 PIRL survey based on averaged reading achievement:

• Hong Kong SAR

• Russian Federation

• Finland

• Singapore

• Northern Ireland

• United States

• Canada - British Columbia

• Denmark

• Croatia

• Chinese Taipei

Canada as a whole ranked 15th in the PIRLS survey. Provincial results were as follows: B.C. (seventh), Ontario (12th), Nova Scotia (14th) Alberta (16th), Newfoundland and Labrador (18th), Quebec (26th) and New Brunswick (36th). Results for Manitoba and Saskatchewan were included only in the overall Canadian results and not reported provincially.

The PIRLS study is undertaken every five years and organized by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), an independent co-operative of research institutions and government agencies. The goal of the PIRLS survey is to provide a comprehensive picture of reading literacy achievement across the world. Membership in IEA has grown to include over 60 countries.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963