Ontario Government Increasing Its Investment In Parent Involvement
Additional Funding To Help Parents Get More Involved In Their Children’s Education

KINGSTON – School councils in Kingston will receive $42,832 after the Ontario government boosted its investment in parent involvement projects to $2.5 million in response to the impressive number of grant applications received, announced MPP John Gerretsen on behalf of Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne.

“Parents in our community put a lot of time, energy and creativity into these programs and play a vital role in their children’s education,” Gerretsen said. “It is important for us to work with them to make it easier for more parents to get involved.”

“I am pleased that our government was able to increase the investment in these innovative projects that will encourage more parents to become involved.”

In October 2006, the ministry announced it would invest $1 million provincewide to support projects that help create a more welcoming environment for parents who face barriers to becoming involved in their children's education or school.

More than 2,800 applications for projects were received. In response to the number and quality of applications, the government is dramatically increasing its investment to more than $2.5 million.

Nearly 1,400 projects will be funded across the province to address these barriers, including parent workshops, multicultural school events, and translation costs to make school materials more accessible to parents in the community.

“I continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm, dedication and creativity shown by parents in this province,” said Wynne. “Encouraging more parents to get involved in Ontario’s publicly funded schools is just one of the ways our government is working to reach every student.”

In total, 26 projects have been funded in the Limestone District School Board and the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, including:

• A Parent Resource Library and Parenting Workshops
• Parent Awareness of Internet Bullying/Cyber Safety
• Improving Communication for Secondary School Parents
• Parent Education, Involvement and Engagement
• Healthy Living for Families

In addition, the new Provincial Parent Board will guide efforts to increase parent involvement. As advisors to the minister, parent members will play a critical role in ensuring that effective parent involvement programs are successfully implemented across the province.

Parents and guardians interested in applying to serve as board members should visit www.edu.gov.on.ca and follow the parents link. Applications must be received on or before February 16, 2007. The board is expected to be operational this spring 2007.

The establishment of the Provincial Parent Board and Parents Reaching Out Grants are key parts of the Ontario Parent Involvement Policy released in December 2005. The McGuinty government recognizes the vital role that parents play in the education of their children. Based on this recognition, the policy provides real support aimed at making it easier for parents to get involved.

Other initiatives that are helping to create a welcoming environment for parents in the education system include:

• Creating the Parent Engagement Office in January 2006 to support provincial efforts to facilitate effective parent involvement in the school system
• Launching the parent section of the Ministry of Education website to give parents access to useful news and resources including “Involving Parents in the School: Tips for School Councils
• Establishing Parent Involvement Committees at school boards to give parents a direct link to the Director of Education and trustees.

The grants are part of an original $5.2 million investment in activities to help parents get involved. This investment also includes providing $500 per school council and $5,000 plus 17 cents per student to support Parent Involvement Committees in school boards.

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For more information contact:
John Gerretsen, MPP
(613) 547-2385