Start2Finish believes in equity-focused approaches to education and wellness. Over our 20-year history as an organization, we have seen up close and personally the gaps in learning and health supports for children within various demographic groups. As society becomes more dependent on technology as a scholarly solution, children are blocks apart but worlds away. Especially during this unprecedented time with COVID-19, a comprehensive and synchronous solution is critical.
Start2Finish Canada has a history of measurable social impact. We carry a gold-standard of expertise in the field of health equity with our innovative in-school and after-school programming in 65 communities Canada-wide, which has now also been made accessible to 72 school boards across Ontario through our Ontario Together COVID-19 proposal to the Ministry of Education. Our Daily 20 physical activity program was recently put forward as a “best practice” by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. Start2Finish Canada’s mission is to break the cycle of child poverty by providing ongoing educational support to Canada’s at-risk children throughout their school years, nurturing mind, body and social health so they are empowered to succeed and become role models for change.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of educational disparity for children in Ontario have widened dramatically. According to experts, the COVID-19 lock-down has caused “collateral damage” to the physical and mental health of Canadian children/youth. The already significant achievement gaps between children from poorer and richer families are bound to increase with the school closures now extending through the summer. Teachers have shared that a major issue of online learning revealed during COVID-19 is the lack of connectivity and the complexity of learning curriculum. According to the Centre of Global Development, simpler and modified learning goals will improve the online learning process. The Start2Finish Virtual Learning Platform will make learning accessible to children who have limited support.
The Start2Finish Virtual Learning Platform bridges the gap with its easy interface and simple philosophy: make learning fun, flexible and feasible. The solution is focused on marginalized elementary/middle school children (grades 1-6) from low-income, black, indigenous, new Canadian and other racialized/cultural minority communities. The Virtual Learning Platform consists of 4 critical components: Literacy, Physical Activity, Mentoring, and Indigenous-specific Support. The Platform is a cost-free, effortless resource for teachers to help reinforce their students’ learning. It will produce measurable outcomes including improved physical and mental health and literacy/learning engagement. The Platform will be accessible to all students through a single online portal, as well as a mobile app. With support from our Indigenous Advisor, we are also developing an indigenous-specific intervention.
The long-term change we see as our goal is systemic – removing barriers to traditional interventions, like cost, equipment, transportation, parental support, stigma, and ability – and making education equitable for ALL children. This will in turn, reduce dropout rates, increase post-secondary attendance, and help the nation’s economy by reducing unemployment rates, increasing tax revenue, reducing long-term healthcare costs, and producing a healthier Canada for the next generation.
The Start2Finish Virtual Learning Platform will bring together all of the elements of our multi-pronged approach (physical, mental, academic, social and psychological). The Platform is currently being developed with input from school boards, principals, teachers, literacy specialists, professional athletes, parents, program participants, and our Indigenous Advisory Circle, and will be ready to pilot in Fall 2020.