RESULTS SUMMARY 2016 - Pathways to Education
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
RESULTS SUMMARY 2016
MESSAGE
FROM THE CEO
Fifteen years ago, Pathways to Education set out to give Communities and youth across this country are ever
youth from low-income neighbourhoods the chance to changing. That’s why one of Pathways’ core values
3 4 12 14 24 30
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
overcome the barriers that held them back. We did it by is adaptability. Whether in Indigenous communities,
shining the light on education as a key determinant of communities facing generational poverty, or communities
one’s future potential. with high newcomer populations, the Pathways Program is
Message Measuring Alumni Provincial Spotlight Volunteers constantly adapting to meet student needs and ensuring
from the CEO Success Spotlight: Results on Learning: One student at a time, community by community, Pathways that they have every opportunity for success.
The Story Supporting to Education Canada and our extraordinary community
of Mark Newcomers
8 16
31
partners advance towards our goal of enabling all youth As you read through this results summary outlining results
from low-income communities to achieve high school from the 2014-2015 school year, it’s important to remember
Building a Ontario graduation. What started as a plan for community that Pathways’ success is defined by our students’ success.
Graduation 25 Community succession with 115 students in Regent Park, Toronto Their hard work, commitment, and determination are the
Nation
18 National
Partnerships has blossomed into a national movement for education. key to our results. Pathways depends on a wide range of
Pathways now serves 18 communities and more than 5,000 passionate, caring, and very dedicated people to ensure
Quebec
9 students. Our 4,000 alumni and counting have navigated we are able to provide the necessary supports to students
26 their way to success in just about every field of study. from low-income communities across Canada. Whether
Graduation
20 Local: Pathways continues to achieve the highest possible results, you’ve donated, volunteered, are a staff member, a
Pathways as outlined throughout our 2016 Results Summary. Pathways Program partner, or an advocate of our work, you
Nova Scotia
9 Kitchener are the reason for Pathways’ enduring legacy of success.
Post- And yet, the need is still very real. Despite statistics that Join me in celebrating the youth who are achieving
Secondary 22 28 point to increasing graduation rates across the country, greatness and the ones ready to follow – youth who believe
Success our Pathways community mapping combined with that they can truly achieve anything.
Manitoba Individual: partnership and community consultations shows that
The Story
there are still far too many pockets of youth left behind. Sincerely,
10 of Duwa
These young people facing barriers are often left out of the
National spotlight. What does this tell us? The need for Pathways is
Presence as great as ever.
Sue Gillespie
President and CEO
Pathways to Education Canada
3
MEASURING Reach Program
Performance
SUCCESS
Pathways aims to enrol the maximum
number of eligible students in their
first year of high school so they can Once students enroll, Pathways
take full advantage of programming closely monitors their participation
for their entire high school career. and analyzes trends to ensure the
Research, evaluation, and responsiveness That’s why, each year, we collect program is maximizing student
to community needs are the foundation data on the number of first-year attendance in various activities, such
high school students eligible to as tutoring and mentoring.
of our program. Since 2001, Pathways has
participate in the Pathways Program.
consistently drawn on key community Pathways staff from across the
stakeholders to help capture the right data country share insights and leading
to ensure Pathways’ success. practices in real time. Our lively,
collaborative organization is
continually learning how best to
serve students.
4 5
MEASURING SUCCESS
School Excellence through First Year of
Engagement Evidence Programming
Thanks to partnerships with schools When Pathways compares pre-Pathways Pathways does not report on
and school boards in Pathways engagement data (the ‘before’) to engagement progress outcomes in the first year
communities, Pathways monitors data following the implementation of the or two of programming in a new
academic data, including school Pathways Program (the ‘after’), we can community, as real change takes
attendance, credit accumulation, calculate effectiveness.* time, dedication, and patience.
and course marks, where possible. Experience has taught us that it
We are an evidence-based organization. That takes a few years to begin to see and
School engagement is a key means we apply what we learn to generate measure Pathways’ impact on youth
predictor of graduation. If students success. This philosophy allows us to develop and their community.
are skipping class, they are less strong, innovative programming for Pathways
likely to be learning and engaging. students, tailored specifically to their needs. The first few years in a new location
That’s why attendance and credit are about refining and making
accumulation are used as proxies As we look ahead to the future, we will continue sure programming best fits the
to measure each student’s school to use an evidence-based approach, relying on community. After a few years,
engagement, year over year. If community expertise. What we learn from our we begin to examine graduation
students are attending school, it’s community partners at the local level ensures outcomes and the overall
one of the ways we can be sure they that we consistently produce successful results, effectiveness of programming.
are on track to graduate. ultimately helping more students graduate from
high school and transition onto brighter futures.
* Pathways Program locations in Quebec compare Pathways students to current non-Pathways
students at the same school.
6 7
MEASURING SUCCESS
GRADUATION RATES OF
PATHWAYS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, 2015 **
Building a Graduation Post-
100%
76%
80%
67% 66% 64%
Graduation Secondary
58%
47%
60%
43% 39%
40%
28% 32% Graduation is measured against the
Nation 20%
Regent Park Kitchener Ottawa Lawrence Rexdale
standard set by each of the provinces in
which Pathways operates: Success
Pathways is working to make Canada Heights
NOVA SCOTIA MANITOBA Between 2004 and 2015:
a Graduation Nation – a country where THREE YEARS FOUR YEARS
every young person, regardless of
socioeconomic status or background,
100%
89% 4,078 Pathways students have
ONTARIO QUEBEC graduated from high school
has an equal opportunity to graduate 80%
70% 72% FOUR YEARS FIVE YEARS
from high school and continue on to 62% 61%
60%
48% 54%
post-secondary education, training, or 46% 40%
3,002 Pathways students have gone
employment.
40% Students across the country may take onto post-secondary education or
20%
19% longer than this to graduate from high training at a variety of institutions
In 2015, Pathways celebrated high school. Language, financial, or other across Canada (and abroad)
school graduations with 947 students barriers can lead to students taking longer
Scarborough Hamilton Kingston Halifax Verdun
across Canada. Graduation rates Village to complete their high school diploma. 74% of all Pathways students who
increased by an average of 85 per cent With the support and encouragement graduated from high school while
across all communities where Pathways of Pathways, these students too achieve registered in the Pathways Program
was offered.* higher rates of post-secondary success. have gone on to post-secondary
PRE-PATHWAYS PATHWAYS education or training
GRADUATION RATE GRADUATION RATE
* This number is calculated by finding the percentage increase from the pre-Pathways graduation rate (the graduation rate in the community prior to the arrival of the Pathways
Program) to the actual graduation rate based on provincial standards of Pathways Program participants, then computing the average of this figure across all locations.
** Graduation rates are measured as per the standard set by each province (three years in Nova Scotia; four years in Ontario and Manitoba; five years in Quebec) and are calculated
using data from students who participated in the Pathways Program for a minimum of two years. Data source: School board data is used for both cohorts in all communities with the
exception of Kingston. In Kingston, school board data is used for pre-Pathways and Pathways Program-reported data for the Pathways cohort. The method used to calculate graduation
rates does not work effectively where there is a high mobility in a community; therefore Winnipeg grad rates were not included. For more information on Winnipeg results, please
review page 22-23.
8 9
MEASURING SUCCESS
Program Province Launch Program & Total Number Number of Total Number Number of VANCOUVER
Location Year Community Partner of Students Graduates of Graduates Graduating
Enrolled in in the as of Cohorts as of BRITISH COLUMBIA
the 2014-2015 2014-2015 October 31, 2014-2015 OPENED IN 2014-2015
School Year * School Year 2015
Regent Park, Ontario 2001 Regent Park CHC 841 162 1598 11
Toronto
Lawrence Heights, Ontario 2007 Unison Heath and 416 104 395 5
Toronto Community Services
National
WINNIPEG
Rexdale, Toronto Ontario 2007 Rexdale CHC 434 84 395 5 MANITOBA
Ottawa Ontario 2007 Pinecrest-Queensway CHC
Presence
472 95 381 5
Kitchener Ontario 2007 Carizon Family and 650 126 471 5
Community Services
Scarborough Village, Ontario 2009 YouthLink 82 225 3
401
Since Pathways was founded in Toronto
2001, we’ve seen tremendous Hamilton Ontario 2009 North Hamilton CHC
451 88 195 3
growth. In the 2014-2015 school
Kingston Ontario 2010 Kingston CHC
year, Pathways operated in 17 279 52 99 2
communities across Canada, Verdun, Montreal Quebec 2007 Toujours ensemble
236 58 160 4
serving 5,358 students. MASHTEUIATSH
QUEBEC
Shawinigan Quebec 2012 Carrefour jeunesse-
243 - - -
emploi Shawinigan
Pointe-Saint-Charles, Quebec 2013 Les YMCA
Montreal du Québec
120 - - -
Sherbrooke Quebec 2013 Maison Jeunes-Est HALIFAX
110 - - -
TORONTO NOVA SCOTIA
ONTARIO SHAWINIGAN
Mashteuiatsh Quebec 2013 Puakuteu – Comité de
femmes de Mashteuiatsh
63 - - - LAWRENCE HEIGHTS QUEBEC
REGENT PARK
Lachine, Montreal Quebec 2014 Carrefour jeunesse- REXDALE
emploi Marquette
35 - - - OTTAWA SHERBROOKE
SCARBOROUGH VILLAGE
ONTARIO QUEBEC
Halifax Nova Scotia 2010 Chebucto Connections
252 47 83 2
Winnipeg Manitoba 2010 Community Education
Development Association
315 49 76 2 KINGSTON
ONTARIO
Vancouver British 2014 Pacific Community
Columbia Resources Society
40 - - -
SAINT JOHN
Saint John ** New Brunswick 2016 Teen Resource Centre - - - - NEW BRUNSWICK
OPENED IN 2016-2017
Total 5,358 947 4,078 47 HAMILTON
ONTARIO
MONTREAL
QUEBEC
KITCHENER
LACHINE
* Total number of students enrolled in the 2014-2015 school year includes all students who participated in the Pathways Program from October 2014 to ONTARIO OPENED IN 2014-2015
August 2015, including students who moved out of the catchment area and did not complete programming.
POINTE-SAINT-CHARLES
** New Pathways Program location launched in 2016-2017; no students enrolled in 2014-2015 school year. VERDUN
10 11
ALUMNI
SPOTLIGHT Growing up in Regent Park, Toronto was tough for Mark.
“Pretty much everyone expected you to drop out of MARK
AT A
school, or had low expectations of you,” says Mark, a
Pathways alumnus from Regent Park. “You were constantly
The Story of GLANCE
fighting that stigma, no matter how well you did in school.
Eventually, people just fell into the pattern, because it was
Mark
easier than going against the grain.”
HIGH SCHOOL
Once in high school, Pathways became an important support for him. GRADUATION:
“[Pathways] became a resource for so many people. It became this place 2007
where you could go for all your problems, if anything went wrong at
school or at home.”
PATHWAYS PROGRAM:
The staff at Pathways had a huge impact on his life – especially his
REGENT PARK,
Student/Parent Support Worker (SPSW). “Things could be rough at TORONTO
With over 4,000 alumni and counting, Pathways school, especially always feeling like you were fighting the negative
alumni are a large and quickly growing community. stereotypes,” remembers Mark. “Standing up for yourself could be hard. UNDERGRADUATE:
To better serve this important group, Pathways People immediately put you in the ‘failure’ bucket and moved on. That CRIMINOLOGY
launched the Alumni Advisory Committee. As is why I relied so much on my SPSW. He grew up in Regent Park, so he AND PSYCHOLOGY
understood what I was going through, and helped to balance me out. He
more students graduate from high school and the
is one of the reasons that I was so successful in high school.” MASTER:
number of Pathways alumni increases, we will look
SOCIO-LEGAL
to the Alumni Advisory Committee for advice on Mark’s SPSW also helped him when applying to post-secondary STUDIES
how best to support their growing community. institutions. “Once I decided which direction I was going to go in [for
post-secondary], there were so many people involved in Pathways that
FIELD OF
Mark, a Pathways alumnus and member of the knew a lot about it and were willing to help me out. They were able to
guide me in terms of decision making and gave me a heads up for what to
EMPLOYMENT:
Alumni Advisory Committee, was part of the HOME HEALTHCARE
look for in a good program.”
second-ever cohort of Pathways students, and
graduated from high school in 2007. Mark successfully graduated from high school and went on to earn
an undergraduate degree in criminology and psychology, as well as a
master’s degree in socio-legal studies.
12 13
PROVINCIAL School
Attendance
Credit
Accumulation
Course
Grades
RESULTS When students attend classes
consistently, they are more
Attendance rates are based
on the total number of days a
A student who is obtaining the
expected number of credits at
Students who are not
obtaining passing
likely to engage in and do student is absent in relation to each grade level is considered to grades in core subjects
Canada’s education system is divided by well in school. That’s why the total number of school days be on track to graduate. are considered to be
provincial jurisdiction. Because of that, we strong attendance levels are in an academic year. struggling or at risk of
considered an important A student who is not obtaining dropping out.
aggregate school engagement data and
indicator of student success. A student with excellent the expected number of credits at
examine it by province. attendance is someone who each grade level is considered to
Throughout the results has been absent from class less be struggling.
summary, we have reported on than 5 per cent of the time.
attendance rates for Pathways
students in Grades 9 and 10, as A student with weak
they have repeatedly shown to attendance is someone who
be good indicators of school has been absent from class
success, as noted from several more than 15 per cent of the
school board reports. time. These students are
considered to be at risk of
dropping out.
14 15
EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE
PROVINCIAL RESULTS
ONTARIO, 2014-2015 ONTARIO, 2014-2015
100% 100%
80% 80% 88% 83%
60% 67% 60%
67%
55% 60% 55%
Ontario * 45%
40% 40%
20% 20%
Ontario has the longest Pathways history, largest
student and alumni populations, and more Pathways GRADE 9 GRADE 10 GRADE 9 GRADE 10
Program locations than any other province.
Aggregated results for the 2014-2015 school year WEAK ATTENDANCE STRUGGLING
have been consistent with previous years across all ONTARIO, 2014-2015 ONTARIO, 2014-2015
Pathways Program locations in Ontario. Collectively,
Pathways students continue to outperform their pre- 30% 30%
Pathways counterparts in terms of school attendance
27%
and credit accumulation.
25% 25%
Pathways Program locations included in the analysis:
20%
21% 20%
21%
Hamilton; Kitchener; Ottawa; Lawrence Heights,
Toronto; Regent Park, Toronto; Rexdale, Toronto; and
15%
16% 15%
Scarborough Village, Toronto. 8% 7%
10%
5%
10%
6%
5% 5%
GRADE 9 GRADE 10 GRADE 9 GRADE 10
* Pathways thanks the following school boards for providing data that has made these analyses possible: Toronto
District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton-
Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo Catholic District School
Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Ottawa Catholic School Board, Conseil des écolespubliques de l’Est de
PRE-PATHWAYS PATHWAYS
l’Ontario, and Conseil des écolescatholiques du Centre-Est.
16 17
EXCELLENT WEAK PASSING GRADE PASSING GRADE
PROVINCIAL RESULTS
ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE IN FRENCH IN MATH
QUEBEC, 2014-2015 QUEBEC, 2014-2015 QUEBEC, 2014-2015 QUEBEC, 2014-2015
100% 100% 100% 100%
90% 90% 90% 90%
84%
Quebec * 82%
80% 80% 80% 80%
75% 76%
70% 70% 70% 70%
Pathways partnered with Montreal’s Toujours ensemble
in 2007 to open the first Quebec Program location
in Verdun, Montreal. Since then, five new Pathways
Program locations have opened in Quebec: Shawinigan
in partnership with Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de
60%
60% 60% 60% 60%
Shawinigan in 2012; Pointe-Saint-Charles, Montreal
in partnership with the YMCA du Québec in 2013; 55%
50% 50% 50% 50%
Sherbrooke in partnership with the youth organization
Maison Jeunes-Est in 2013; Mashteuiatsh in partnership
with Puakuteu – Comité de femmes de Mashteuiatsh
in 2014; and Lachine, Montreal in partnership with 40% 40% 40% 40%
Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Marquette in 2015.
Pathways students from Quebec are outperforming
30% 30% 30% 30%
their non-Pathways peers** in both school attendance
and the proportion of students obtaining a passing
grade in core subjects.***
20% 20% 20% 20%
Pathways Program locations included in the analysis:
Lachine, Montreal; Pointe-Saint-Charles, Montreal; and 13%
Shawinigan.
10% 10%
10% 10% 10%
* Pathways thanks the following school boards for providing data that made these analyses possible: Commission
scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys and Commission scolaire de l’Énergie.
** The non-Pathways peer group is made up of students who attend the same schools but are not participants in the
Pathways Program.
PRE-PATHWAYS PATHWAYS
*** Attendance data was not available for Pointe-Saint-Charles. Analysis excludes students in cohort 2014, as this is
their first year in the Pathways Program.
18 19EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE WEAK ATTENDANCE STRUGGLING
PROVINCIAL RESULTS
HALIFAX, 2014-2015 HALIFAX, 2014-2015 HALIFAX, 2014-2015
60% 30% 30%
30%
50%
54% 52% 25% 25%
21%
40%
43% 46% 20% 23% 20%
19%
Nova Scotia * 30%
20%
15%
10%
16% 15%
10%
10%
7% 7%
Halifax 4%
10% 5% 5%
Generational poverty, lower levels of literacy and 0%
numeracy, and youth health issues are all factors that GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12
affect school outcomes in Halifax.
In an effort to improve school engagement and
programming participation, Pathways Halifax, local The Ministry of Education and Early Childhood Development in Nova Scotia ON TRACK TO GRADUATE
schools, and the Department of Health and Wellness recently announced that 32 per cent of all high school students missed 16 HALIFAX, 2014-2015
collaborated to implement a Healthy Living curriculum. or more days of school in the 2014-2015 school year.
The curriculum was developed two years ago, and is 100%
now delivered in partnership with teachers across all Nonetheless, attendance amongst Grade 10 Pathways students from Halifax
Grade 9 classes. has improved over the last three years and has remained steady for Grade 11 91%
students. 80%
85%
All of the classes in the Healthy Living curriculum are 75% 71%
activity-based, encourage open conversations, and In fact, the Pathways Program in Halifax was highlighted in a recent report 70%
published by the Government of Nova Scotia, acknowledging the program’s
66%
focus on topics such as mental health, help-seeking 60%
behaviour, societal expectations of masculinity and positive impact: “73 per cent of Grade 12 students who had participated
femininity, healthy relationships, sex and consent, in the Pathways [Program] since Grade 9 had excellent attendance (i.e.
40%
sexual health, and alcohol and drugs. they missed fewer than 5 per cent of their classes). This was a significant
improvement over their attendance in Grade 9 and more than 20 per cent
The impact of this innovative approach to engaging higher than their Grade 12 peers who did not participate in Pathways.”
20%
youth in their education is now evident in both school
attendance and participation in programming. Pathways continues to monitor the impact on participation and retention
rates – both are improving consistently.
GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12
► High school in Halifax begins in Grade 10.
PRE-PATHWAYS PATHWAYS
* Pathways thanks the Halifax Regional School Board for providing data that has made these analyses possible.
20 21Generosity Belonging Because of Pathways Winnipeg’s continued
PROVINCIAL RESULTS
efforts, we are seeing positive results with a
and Independence The Pathways Program in Winnipeg prides
significant percentage of students rejoining
the Pathways Program.
itself on making all students feel welcome.
In 2014-2015, a Student Advisory Council was formed There is a high rate of mobility amongst
at Pathways Winnipeg, giving eight senior students and ► At the start of the 2014-2015 school
Pathways students in Winnipeg and it is year, 89 per cent of all students who were
four recent alumni an excellent opportunity to practice
common for students to change schools active in Pathways Program at the end of
independence and generosity. For most of the members, it
frequently and move in and out of the the 2013-2014 school year re-registered
was their first work experience.
neighbourhood, making student retention for programming.
a challenge. Knowing this, Pathways
► Student Advisory Council members served as peer
Winnipeg staff members put extra efforts ► 88 per cent of students registered in
Manitoba
helpers, working at the tutoring centre with Pathways
towards retaining and regaining all students Pathways’ Feeder School program for
students each week.
when a new school year begins. This Grade 8 students in 2013-2014 registered
includes re-recruiting students who have for the Pathways Program in the fall of 2014.
► A Student Conference was planned and facilitated entirely GENEROSITY BELONGING
Winnipeg by the Student Advisory Council in April 2015. The day-long
event was attended by approximately 100 Pathways students
Looking forward to A sense of
previously left the Pathways Program.
being able to contribute community,
and was considered a huge success by everyone involved. to others, be able to give loving others,
It has been shown that the current cherished things to others. and being.
measures of student achievement based
primarily on literacy and numeracy, while
important, are not necessarily working
for Indigenous students; instead, many INDEPENDENCE MASTERY
recommend using a more holistic approach
that is rooted in an Indigenous worldview.*
Making one’s own
decisions and being
Competence in many
areas; cognitive, physical,
Mastery ► In 2015, all 25 high
school students enrolled
Completion of the
requirements needed to
responsible for failure social, and spiritual. in the summer school graduate from high school
The Circle of Courage, used by Pathways or success, setting Having self-control, The Pathways Program in program earned all of their is the ultimate example
one’s own goals, responsibility, striving Winnipeg, in conjunction of mastery of academic
Winnipeg, mirrors that holistic approach required credits (33 credits
disciplining one’s self. to achieve personal with the Winnipeg School
and, as such, we are presenting their in total) and successfully skills for Pathways students
goals rather than Division, started a summer
2014-2015 school year results aligned to superiority. passed summer school. in Winnipeg.
school program in 2013
that model. Contributing to the
so that students could ► One of the highlights
success was an excellent
earn or upgrade course of the 2014-2015 school
credits. The summer school attendance record by
the students, with no year was the graduation
program has demonstrated
unverified absences over of 49 students – almost
the success that students
the three weeks of summer double the number from
can achieve when they
school. These results are the previous year.
are able to focus on core
courses in a small, focused similar to that of previous
years, and we are pleased ► Since 2013, a total of 76
setting year-round.
that we continue to students have graduated
see Pathways students from the Pathways
succeeding in high school Program in Winnipeg.
with the help of the
* Toulouse, P. (2016). What Matters in Indigenous Education: Implementing a Vision summer school program.
Committed to Holism, Diversity and Engagement. In Measuring What Matters, People for
Education. Toronto: March, 2016.
22 23National
a new country with a different These relationships are crucial
culture can be challenging and for getting all Pathways students
finding a good job to support engaged with programming,
their family may take time. The and are powerful resources for
A large number of Pathways students across the country are born outside financial support offered by newcomer youth.
of Canada. The following seven Pathways Program locations support Pathways helps to ensure that, no
particularly high numbers of these students. matter the situation, newcomer Newcomer students joining
students have some very basic Pathways often lack the
SPOTLIGHT
needs addressed. confidence and self-esteem to
As the Pathways Program expands
across Canada, it reaches diverse Who is a Number of
Active Participants *
Number Born
Outside of Canada % Born Outside of Canada make connections and build
communities with incredibly varied newcomer? Halifax 255 22 9%
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
relationships necessary to
ON LEARNING
demographics, social situations, and flourish within the community
histories. We believe the success of the
Lawrence Heights, Toronto 378 67 18%
AND LITERACY (ELL) and beyond. The one-on-one
A newcomer refers to a person support provided by Pathways
Pathways Program is best achieved Rexdale, Toronto 422 89 21%
who has recently come to Canada, gives students a safe space to
when we dedicate time to working with Ottawa 429 177 41% For most newcomer families
typically within the last 3-5 years. open up and build relationships
SUPPORTING
each unique community, appreciating that join Pathways, English is
Kitchener 589 300 51%
their defining features and dynamics. not their first language. This is with Pathways staff and other
Newcomers to Canada often face Hamilton 404 81 20% youth in the community. Through
This approach shapes our most not only a potential barrier to
a myriad of barriers in addition these individual relationships
educational success, but it is also
NEWCOMERS
important lessons, maximizing the Scarborough Village, Toronto 372 178 48%
to those that someone in a low- between staff, volunteers, youth,
impact of the Pathways Program and Total: 2,849 Total: 914 Average: 30% a barrier to successful integration
income community would face, and families, Pathways helps
its outcomes. into the community.
including, but not limited to: * Data as of February 17, 2016 newcomer students overcome the
In this Spotlight on Learning, we will Pathways partners with local barriers that can stand in the way
► English Language and
focus on newcomer communities – a Each Pathways Program location FINANCIAL SUPPORT high schools to help reinforce of education and supports their
Literacy challenges across the country adapts its successful integration.
large demographic within the Pathways the ELL education that
network – from three perspectives: programming to better meet Transitioning to a new country is newcomer students receive
► Little to no support networks the needs of the families and Many of the diverse organizations
never easy, and some newcomers from their school. This includes
and absence of social capital students in the community, we partner with in each
arrive to Canada with little to no collaborating with high schools to
including newcomers to Canada. resources and few job prospects. monitor the student’s progress, community offer a wide range
NATIONAL ► A lack of resources (financial
Pathways offers a range of while also developing academic of services that directly benefit
A look at how Pathways serves support; knowledge of culture, Although each location across the newcomer families in Canada.
financial support to every support programming that
newcomer communities across the education system, social and country offers a diverse range of For instance, some offer a
student in the Pathways Program, complements what the student
country health services) activities tailored to the different number of settlement services
including, but not limited to: is currently learning in the high
cultures within the community, immediate financial supports (ex. school’s ELL curriculum. for newcomer students, including
LOCAL we can identify three broad lunch vouchers, bus tickets to get pairing a volunteer from the
categories that have proven to and from school), as well as community with a newcomer.
A highlight on the local Pathways
Kitchener community and their
critical for newcomer students: longer-term financial supports in A NETWORK Paired volunteers and newcomer
newcomer population the form of earned scholarships. OF COMMUNITY students meet once a week to
► Financial support These financial supports help PARTNERSHIPS practice conversational English
to reduce some of the financial AND SUPPORT and answer any questions the
INDIVIDUAL ► English Language
newcomer has about the city and
strain on newcomer families,
and Literacy programming
A story about newcomer and Pathways and allow students more time As part of Pathways’ core resources available to them.
student, Duwa, from Kitchener, Ontario ► A network of community and energy to focus on their programming, we encourage
partnerships and support education. For many newcomers one-on-one support between
to Canada, making a home in Pathways staff and students.
24 25Local Supporting Newcomer Pathways Youth are
possible, and form relationships with local the primary objective was to strengthen
SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING
businesses and organizations to help relationships with their local settlement
Students in Kitchener support newcomer students and their workers, to better understand the work Overcoming Barriers
successful integration. both organizations do, and to increase the
With such a large newcomer community, efficiency and seamlessness of referrals. Despite challenging socioeconomic realities,
Pathways Kitchener: the Pathways Program in Kitchener is
continuously learning how to best serve MY INVISIBLE LIFE: A PLAY
Pathways youth in Kitchener are achieving
academic success and are closing the gap
By the Numbers newcomer students, and how to adapt
Supporting English with their peers thanks to these tailored
programming to meet their specific needs. Six Pathways students, along with other supports. The five-year graduation rate tells
According to Citizen and Immigration’s newcomer students from a local high Language Learners the story.
school, shared their personal stories of what
projected figures for 2013-2015, Kitchener
(ELL) Students
received about 12 per cent of all
government-assisted refugees in Ontario,
Staff and Volunteers it was like for them to start a new life in
Canada through acting in My Invisible Life. KITCHENER
and about 3.7 per cent of all government- Reflect Diversity The powerful play, supported by YMCA and
WORKING WITH ELL STUDENTS:
created with the professional guidance from
assisted refugees in Canada.*
of Students and MT Space, was performed at the Kitchener A VOLUNTEER SESSION
CURRENT
SCHOOL BOARD
GRADUATION
This high percentage of newcomer families
is nothing new for Kitchener, and is similarly
Community Public Library Theatre and then again at a
local high school. In total, students at Pathways Kitchener
PATHWAYS
GRADUATION
RATE ****
RATE
82%
reflected in the community served by represent 47 different languages. To support
Pathways students in Kitchener come from
Pathways – over 1⁄2 of Pathways Kitchener Four Pathways staff took part in organizing these students as they learn and strengthen
students are newcomers.
42 different countries, with the largest
representation from Colombia, Afghanistan,
the event, along with Pathways students
who volunteered doing henna, participated
their English skills, Pathways Kitchener
organized a discussion for new and returning
76%
Somalia, Iraq, and Myanmar. To ensure
in poetry recitation, and performed dances. volunteers called “Working with ELL
these newcomer students feel welcomed,
Students.” In this session, volunteers received
KITCHENER ** comfortable, and empowered during PRE-PATHWAYS
It was an empowering experience for the information on assessments, placements, and GRADUATION
programming, and to help Pathways better RATE ***
22% low-income compared to students, who, with the support of Pathways the varying language streams in the local high
understand the barriers their students face,
staff, were given a platform to share about schools. Then they were given the opportunity
54%
city average of 13%
Pathways Kitchener ensures that their staff
their newcomer experience and build to participate in breakout discussion groups
and volunteers reflect the diversity of their
21% single-parent households relationships within the community. where both new and returning volunteers were
students and community.
compared to city average of 15% able to share ideas on how to best engage
ELL students.
1/3 of the population SETTLEMENT AND
are newcomers Strong Relationships EDUCATION PROGRAM Due to language barriers and other challenges,
ELL students can be harder to engage in a
with and Support for OF WATERLOO REGION
meaningful way while at programming. By
the Community In an effort to continuously learn how to
providing information on where these students
are coming from, the challenges they face, and
best serve newcomer students, and to
what the Ontario school system looks like for
For many newcomer students who are ensure an integrated and holistic strategy,
them, volunteers are better equipped to start
less familiar with the community and who Pathways Kitchener staff connected with
thinking about how they might engage with
have yet to make connections outside of the Settlement and Education Program of
these students. Having breakout discussions
their family, it’s important for Pathways to Waterloo Region (SEPWR).
allowed new and returning volunteers to build
encourage relationship building on a larger,
their toolkit and develop new strategies for *** This number was calculated using the 5-year pre-Pathways graduation rate, and will
community scale. Pathways Kitchener staff Pathways staff frequently come into therefore differ from Kitchener’s graduation rate on page 8 which outlines the 4-year pre-
working with ELL students.
* CBC.ca and volunteers support students to get contact with SEPWR workers at the schools Pathways graduation rate.
** Data Source: 2011 Census Data involved in their communities whenever and receive referrals from them, and so **** Data Source: Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo Catholic District School Board
26 27Individual
SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING
TAILORED BELONGING AND CAREER MENTORING HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT PLAN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT GRADUATION
The Story of
Once registered in the Pathways While in programming, Duwa Duwa then participated in different With his determination and hard work, Duwa
Program, the staff took the time to was surrounded by other career mentoring sessions to create achieved his goal of graduating from high school.
Duwa
get to know Duwa, and worked with young newcomers, and he a resume and practice his interview He had come a long way and his pride was obvious
him to map out a tailored educational realized that he was not alone. skills. These combined efforts at graduation. That hopeful, young 16-year-old who
and support plan that focused By the time he completed the helped him successfully find a part- was once embarrassed by the quality of his English
specifically on Duwa’s needs. literacy programming, Duwa time job. now has a solid future ahead of him.
was confidently reading and
transitioned back into the regular
tutoring program.
When Duwa arrived in Canada as a refugee, he was
16 years old, had low literacy skills, and, since he
had rarely attended school in the refugee camp
where he grew up, had limited experience with any
school system. Duwa’s parents had faced similar
challenges in their lives and had a strong desire to
give Duwa a better future. To ensure he had that
future, they wanted Duwa to have an education. TUTORING VOLUNTEERING & PREPARING FOR LIFE WORKING TOGETHER
SPECIALTY MENTORING AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
As Duwa’s story shows, it truly does take an entire
The local school Duwa attended in Kitchener, Working with Duwa, Pathways tutoring
community to make a sustainable, positive impact
volunteers and staff identified his Now with greater confidence and As with many students living in poverty,
Ontario had a strong relationship with Pathways – schools, community partners, families, volunteers,
additional language needs, suggesting successfully accumulating high school the draw towards earning money
and quickly referred him to the Pathways Program. credits, Duwa was eager to get a job full-time often creates a conflict with staff, donors, supporters, and the Pathways
that he begin with the English Language
to help support his family. He sought the goal of graduating. With the help Program are all instrumental in helping each young
Literacy programming. There, Duwa
help from the Pathways mentoring of Pathways Kitchener staff, Duwa person achieve their dreams.
was paired with a dedicated Pathways
tutor and they began to work together team to identify volunteer opportunities considered his options and identified
as a way to get a foot in the door for the obstacles to graduation, and then Duwa’s story is just one example of the path that
on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, Pathways
employment. Through Pathways’ strong together they created a plan that newcomer students may take when they come
Kitchener staff communicated frequently
network of community partnerships, helped him achieve both goals. This to Canada. To learn more about the different
with his school and teachers to ensure
Duwa was able to acquire the volunteer included customizing program supports socioeconomic realities of Canadian communities,
the help he was receiving at Pathways
hours needed to graduate from high to help him successfully pass the check out Pathways’ Community Mapping Tool:
complemented their lesson plans and
recommendations for Duwa. school and began to build his resume. literacy test required to graduate.
Communitymappingtool.pathwaystoeducation.ca
28 29COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS PARTNERSHIPS Carizon Family and
Community Services
(Kitchener, ON)
Carrefour jeunesse-emploi
Marquette
(Lachine, Montreal, QC)
Carrefour jeunesse-emploi
Shawinigan
(Shawinigan, QC)
CEDA
(Winnipeg, MB)
Chebucto Connections
(Halifax, NS)
Kingston Community
Health Centres
(Kingston, ON)
Pathways relies on a dedicated
force of volunteers across all
In the 2014-2015 year,
1,432 volunteers made
Program Partners
Pathways Program locations and
at our national office to help us an incredible difference Pathways depends on not only the commitment
REGENT PARK
deliver programming to students. for youth, providing over and support of dedicated staff and volunteers, and COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
They share a commitment to the generosity of Canadians from coast to coast, but
education and boundless energy
49,000 volunteer hours. Maison Jeunes-Est North Hamilton Pacific Community Pinecrest-Queensway Puakuteu-Comite de Regent Park Community
also on the depth and breadth of partnerships that (Sherbrooke, QC) Community Health Centre Resources Society Community Health Centre femmes de Mashteuiatsh Health Centre
and enthusiasm for helping youth (Hamilton, ON) (Vancouver, BC) (Ottawa, ON) (Mashteuiatsh, QC) (Regent Park, Toronto, ON)
succeed.
allow the Pathways Program to integrate effectively
within a community.
Many Pathways volunteers work as
tutors or mentors. Tutors provide Pathways’ Program Partners provide the community
academic support at least one expertise, longstanding relationships, safe spaces,
evening a week during the school
staff, and volunteers to successfully deliver the
year in one of the core high school
subjects – math, English, science,
Pathways Program to youth and their families.
geography, or social sciences. Rexdale Community Teen Resource Centre Toujours ensemble Unison Health and Les YMCA du Quebec YouthLink
Mentors provide social support by Health Centre (Saint John, NB) (Verdun, Montreal, QC) Community Services (Pointe-Saint-Charles, (Scarborough Village,
(Rexdale, Toronto, ON) (Lawrence Heights, Montreal, QC) Toronto, ON)
participating with and engaging
Toronto, ON)
youth in group activities.
Other Pathways Program volunteers
provide a range of assistance,
1,083 volunteer tutors
including administrative duties,
fundraising, and other supports. 197 volunteer mentors
In addition to over 1,300 volunteer 46 fundraising and
Partnerships We can’t achieve our goals alone. Partnership is core to everything that we do – from
community partners who deliver the Pathways Program, to individuals, organizations,
Pathways’
community partners
tutors and mentors, Pathways
Canada is also privileged to work
leadership volunteers Power Us and governments that fund our work, to volunteers who increase our capacity.
have established more
than 366 formal and
with more than 40 volunteers 67 other A CORE The “Partnerships Power Us” value comes to life when we are seeking and sustaining
who support national initiatives, ORGANIZATIONAL productive relationships and leveraging what others bring to the table to improve and informal partnerships.
fundraising, governance, leadership, 39 volunteer tutors VALUE further our work.
and administration. and mentors *
Pathways’ Program Partners, schools, school boards, volunteers, staff, parents,
* These are in addition to the volunteer tutors and students, alumni, supporters, and donors each play a vital and irreplaceable role in
mentors listed separately, as they volunteer their time
as both tutors and mentors. making Canada a Graduation Nation.
30 31CONNECT
WITH PATHWAYS
twitter.com/PathwaysCanada 439 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 16TH FLOOR
TORONTO, ON M5G 1Y8
facebook.com/PathwaysToEducationCanada
T 416 646 0123
instagram.com/PathwaysCanada TOLL FREE 877 516 0123
F 416 646 0122
flickr.com/PathwaysToEducation
youtube.com/GraduationNation CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER:
861908499 RR0001
pathwaystoeducation.caYou can also read
