oneNS Coalition Agenda Item 1: Overview Slides DM Bernie Miller April 21 st 2015

Agenda Setting the Context: Cradle to Career - from Early Childhood Education to the Workforce Presentation: Implementation of the 3 Rs DM Sandra McKenzie Update on the 10-year Plan Framework Dr. Kent MacDonald 2

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career “It is now widely accepted that schooling at the elementary, junior high and high school levels provides the crucial foundations for all further learning, and the jurisdictions that develop the best public education systems essentially give their citizens a head-start on ”learning a living.” - The One Nova Scotia Report 3

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career “Just as Nova Scotia businesses must compete in a global marketplace, so too must the educational outcomes for our students be measured against a world standard”. - The One Nova Scotia Report 4

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career GOAL 7: Labour Force Participation Rate – NS Nova Scotia will have a labour force participation rate at least as high as the Canadian rate, bringing more than 25,000 Nova Scotians into permanent attachment to the labour market. (The Nova Scotia rate is currently 63.4% compared to the Canadian rate of 66.4%). - The One Nova Scotia Report 5

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career GOAL 8: Employment Rate – First Nations and African Nova Scotians The employment rate (i.e., percent of the working age population currently employed or “officially unemployed”) for Aboriginal and African Nova Scotians will be equal to the provincial average. (The rate is currently 62% for African Nova Scotians and 53% for First Nations people, compared to the provincial rate of 68%). - The One Nova Scotia Report 6

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career GOAL 9: Youth Employment Nova Scotia’s youth unemployment rate (currently 19.5%) will be at or better than the national rate in that year (currently 14.0%). - The One Nova Scotia Report 7

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career GOAL 10: Post-Secondary Education and Training The proportion of Nova Scotia’s working age population with a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, including apprenticeship completion, will have increased from the current 55% to 65%. - The One Nova Scotia Report 8

Setting the Context: Cradle to Career Game Changer VII Excellence in Education and Training If we believe in ourselves, in the quality of teachers and most importantly in the potential of our sons and daughters, we will have the courage to set a high bar and then hold ourselves accountable for reaching our goals. - The One Nova Scotia Report 9

oneNS Coalition Cradle to Career: The 3 Rs DM Sandra McKenzie, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development April 21 st 2015

Build A Modern Education System Create An Innovative Curriculum Promote Inclusive School Environments Advance Excellence In Teaching And Leadership

Change is being enacted at all levels of the public education system: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development ‒Centre for Learning Excellence ‒Inter-university Chair in Research on the Achievement Gap School Boards Post-secondary institutions Partnerships ‒Government ‒Community ‒Business

Birth to Pre-School Address the waitlist for Early Intervention Programs Arrange 18 and 36 month preschool screenings Open 4 new Early Years Centres Create and distribute a growth and development guide for four-year olds

Grades Primary – 3 Create a streamlined P-3 curriculum with clearly defined essential learning outcomes Target funding to math mentors Offer targeted early intervention in math Encourage more daily physical activity Provide more time for teaching math and literacy Strong Foundations

Grades 4 – 8 Offer new online learning opportunities Integrate educational technology in all new curricula Introduce all students to the basics of coding Support the development of creativity, innovation and problem- solving skills Incorporate character development in subjects such as health and social studies Introduce a Career Education Framework, beginning in Grade 4 Ensure access to innovative, experiential, and entrepreneurial learning opportunities, Grades 6 to 8 Innovation and Exploration

Grades 9 – 12 Increase learning about STEAM careers, Grades 10 – 12 Expand community-based learning through programs such as Co-op, Entrepreneurship Education, O2, and Skilled Trades Provide workplace training (e.g., WHMIS, First Aid, CPR), Grade 12 Offer Entrepreneurship as a Challenge for Credit or Independent Study Create a Minister’s Award of Excellence for Entrepreneurship Require students to complete three high school math courses as a graduation requirement, starting 2020 Create a mandatory Grade 10 course in 21 st century citizenship Introduce a full-year Grade 11 Academic Math course Ready To Launch

A needs-based model of inclusive education School to Community Transition Program for students with special needs Equity education programs highlighting African Nova Scotian, Mi’kmaq history and culture Province-wide Achievement Gap Initiative to address achievement gaps in math and literacy between groups of students Task-force to provide recommendations to the Minister about career choices and pathways, and successful transitions Implement a new School Code of Conduct

New model of teacher education Accredit university Schools of Education Generate new requirements for teacher certification that are aligned with provincial teaching standards Certify teachers based on provincial teaching standards Develop new models of performance management and professional development

Create a streamlined, innovative P – 3 curriculum Target funding for math mentors and early math intervention P – 3 Introduce new Discovering Opportunities programs Introduce new provincial homework standards Implement a new Code of Conduct Establish a Centre for Learning Excellence Create a Minister’s Forum for Teaching Excellence Establish a Business Education Council Develop provincial criteria for placing a student on an IPP

Action Plan Supports OneNS Education Goals Business Education Council Celebrate Our Youth

By aligning our goals we will ensure Nova Scotia youth have the right opportunities to gain the skills they need for rewarding and successful careers OneNS Youth Employment – the province’s youth unemployment rate will be at or better than the national rate Post-Secondary Learning – the proportion of the province’s working age population with a post- secondary credential will increase from the current 55 percent to 65 percent EECD Critical Skills - All students graduate with coding skills Embrace STEM and Mathematics as a foundation for effective economic development in NS

Perceived Readiness for Work and Post-Secondary Learning NS Minister’s Panel on Education (2014)

Are Graduates Prepared for Work? McKinsey Center for Government (2015)

The Business-Education Council will Develop new career exploration opportunities Provide a forum where business can identify the skills students need to succeed in the workforce Create a database of entrepreneurs available to become mentors to students Increase work experience and co-op opportunities Enhance teacher awareness of economic growth sectors in the province.

48% of young adults identified job opportunities as the number one reason for considering moving away. 36% of Nova Scotia born young adults say they’re somewhat or very likely to consider leaving NS in the next three years. Half of young adults in Nova Scotia say they’re either somewhat or not very confident they can meet their long-term career objectives while working in Nova Scotia.

Ways to Celebrate our Youth Launch a provincial campaign to highlight youth entrepreneurs Celebrate young community leaders and innovators Showcase entrepreneurial start-up success and learn from their challenges Host luncheons that celebrate young innovative leaders to share their ideas and experiences. Provide more opportunities to connect youth with potential employers