a history of curriculum services canada

2006-2007
The Curriculum Resource Services (CRS) Unit reported that it had established a team of Arts
educators to compare the Ontario curriculum for the Arts in Grades 1-12 with similar curriculum
in six other jurisdictions. The comparison will result in comprehensive data supplied to EDU in
February 2007 and will be used to guide revisions to the current curriculum policy for this area
of study. CRS is also managing a thorough evaluation of the Lighthouse projects that are part of
the Learning to 18-Pathways initiative. Other CRS initiatives include: conducting a field test of
the STEP (Steps to English Proficiency) resource, and, in conjunction with the Ministry of
Tourism, developing and mentoring a resource on Ontario’s Greenbelt for Grades 7-9. Also
noted was CRS mentoring of two teacher-developed projects that received TCF grants:
“Traditional Careers,” a co-op program for Aboriginal youth for Grades 9-12, and “Media
Literacy within the Multicultural Classroom” for Grades 6 and 7.
Evaluation Services reported the training of eight evaluators, meetings with Trillium
stakeholders, an extension for completion of the CultureSource.ca website, and, in business
development, a quote provided to the Ontario Power Authority for the evaluation of learning
resources associated with electricity, as well as a CSC presentation to the Auditor General of
Canada regarding evaluation of federally funded learning materials.
February 2007
Between December 2006 and February 2007, Professional Learning Services (PLS) delivered
four Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat webcasts (an ongoing project) and continued their work
on producing and designing web pages for various websites on many ongoing projects (e.g.,
Managing Information for Student Achievement (MISA)—Barrie Region). Website conference
activity was brisk, particularly for LNS, whose demo attracted 90 participants.
Between late November 2006 and mid-January 2007, Evaluation Services involved 30 evaluators
in their Trillium list evaluations. Other projects and liaison activities were ongoing. CRS
reported ongoing activity in all projects listed for the previous meeting.
April 2007
For the April 2007 meeting, the Executive Director highlighted the following in her report:
regarding business development, ongoing meetings and communications with the Assembly of
First Nations, the National Aboriginal Literacy Foundation, and the Chiefs of Ontario; an off-site
annual planning session at the Millcroft Inn for the Management Team; and attendance at
various events (e.g., the Canadian School Boards Association conference reception). In the area
of Human Resources, there were many ongoing activities (e.g., meetings with HR consultant)
and the recruitment of a new Scheduling Coordinator.
In addition to ongoing activities, CRS began working with the Council of Ontario Directors of
Education on the development of two resources to support English language learners. CRS
involvement includes: being part of the project team that is managing the project, doing peer
reviews of the material during development, and preparing the documents for publication. CRS
also developed reference charts of pertinent data for use by school administrators in granting
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