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What would it take for every child in Canada to be learning foundational literacy skills by the age of five? That’s the question at the heart of our new report, What Would It Take….

This landmark report explores what children need to begin developing foundational literacy skills by the time they enter kindergarten — and how Canada can build a system that ensures all children are on this path. Created in collaboration with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), What Would It Take… places a particular focus on pre-literacy, a key part of the continuum of literacy development that begins at birth. It recognizes that while Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) can play a central role in helping children develop pre-literacy skills, too many families still face barriers to accessing affordable, high-quality care. Moreover, the absence of a unified, evidence-based approach across provinces and territories has led to an inconsistent patchwork of early learning policies.

To address these challenges, What Would It Take… outlines four interconnected recommendations:

• Develop and Disseminate Canadian Evidence
  Invest in building a national body of research on effective early literacy strategies for children from birth to age five.
• Mobilize New Knowledge into Action
  Launch a national Plan of Action, supported by an information campaign and a network of early literacy champions to drive policy change.
• Revise Subnational Early Learning Policies
  Ensure provincial and territorial policies include clear expectations for pre-literacy instruction and developmental outcomes.
• Expand Early Learning to Reach All Children
  Increase investment in ECE centres and educators and ensure access to early learning is a right, not a privilege.

Through evidence-based insights and actionable recommendations, What Would It Take… calls on leaders across sectors to prioritize early literacy. Canada has the opportunity — and the responsibility — to ensure that every child arrives in kindergarten equipped with the foundational pre-literacy (or early literacy) skills to thrive and learn to read.

Download the Full Report

Download the Executive Summary (English)