ReadNow BC

Increase the number of children entering school ready to learn

The Challenge:

  • One in four students started kindergarten this year without the developmental skills needed to succeed – that’s nearly 9,000 students each year.

Our Goal:

  • To increase the number of children entering school ready to learn from 75% to 78% within the next 3 years and to 85% in the next 10 years.

How will Government achieve this goal?

As Government and partners move forward with ReadNow BC, other actions, in addition to the examples listed below, will be developed to ensure all British Columbians have opportunities to improve their literacy skills.

  • Implement 80 StrongStart Early Learning Centres. These centres offer free drop-in programs for parents or caregivers and their children, helping preschool-age children develop pre-reading skills and get ready for kindergarten.
  • Expand Ready, Set, Learn, a program that helps three-year-olds get ready for kindergarten .
  • Expand LEAP BC (Literacy, Education, Activity and Play), a program that provides resources to parents and child care providers aimed at supporting pre-literacy development combined with physical activity.
  • Expand Family Literacy Programs throughout the province. These programs, offered through libraries, schools and other community agencies, engage parents through a process of family literacy, as we know that adults are motivated to improve their own literacy in order to help their children learn how to read.
Increase the number of children entering school ready to learn [PDF 112KB]

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1-888-READ234: This toll-free literacy hotline provides British Columbians with details on how to access literacy programs and services. Translation services are able to accommodate Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Farsi, French, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese, and more.