The 2021 TD Ready Challenge grants will support 15 non-profit and charitable organizations in
Research predictsi that the interruptions to education resulting from the pandemic are expected to have serious ramifications for generations to come, particularly among students from Indigenous and racialized communities, low-income households, those with disabilities, or those with limited access to technology.
The grants, provided through the 2021 TD Ready Challenge, will help community organizations to implement innovative interventions to help disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 catch up and minimize future loss.
"Intermittent school closures and in-class learning disruptions over the last two years have created significant challenges for both students and teachers. Through the 2021 TD Ready Challenge, we are proud to provide funding to 15 organizations that are working to scale innovative programs designed to help tackle predicted learning loss. Their efforts will help create opportunities for students so that they can feel more confident about their futures and have the opportunity to succeed in a changing world," said
Launched in 2018, the TD Ready Challenge is an annual North American initiative designed to help solve real-life issues impacting people in our communities by providing grants to non-profit and charitable organizations. It is a key component of the Bank's corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment.
From more than 300 applications received between
Learn more about the selected solutions for the 2021 TD Ready Challenge below using descriptions provided directly by each of the 15 recipients:
BGC Canada (
"Raising Readers in a
"Via outdoor eco-labs installed on school grounds,
"Letters, Sounds and Words is an evidence-based, high impact early literacy intervention program for children ages 5-9, delivered in partnership with school boards and schools across
Tech Spark Canada: Spark Plug – Democratizing Education through AI and Data-driven Personalized Learning (
"Spark Plug uses artificial intelligence and predictive data analytics to personalize learning experiences in reading and math for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) middle school students. We use a proprietary algorithm to identify each student's intelligence type and learning level so we can send personalized culturally responsive content to their devices to increase their unique understanding of reading and math concepts."
LUCY Outreach: Lifting Up Camden's Youth Inside & Outside of the Classroom (
"Since the founding of the organization, LUCY ('Lifting Up Camden's Youth') Outreach was established to address disproportionate learning loss and continues to use innovative programs and support services to address this loss, especially in math and reading. LUCY fills this gap through after school, evening, weekend, and summer programs, including college and career readiness."
"The Digital Acceleration program bridges the digital divide faced by Indigenous youth by employing an integrated, hands-on approach to learning, designed to build on a variety of STEM topics including (but not limited to) mathematics, technology, computer literacy, biology and sustainability to one of the youngest and fastest growing demographics in
"
"The Math Minds model has been proven to have a significant, year-over-year impact on student learning across grades 1-6. By sharing Math Minds findings and professional learning resources, we will equip current and pre-service teachers and education leaders with teaching strategies so they may start using them as soon as possible to improve learner experience, generally, and alleviate student learning loss caused by the pandemic, specifically."
The Arc
"The
"The Codman Academy Tutorial Program provides students with additional learning support inside and outside the classroom with one-on-one or small group tutoring during Skills Block (structured academic support time). The tutorial also aims to use evidence from assessments administered during remote learning to address learning loss."
"The Scaling-Up initiative is a blended in-person and online after school enrichment program that offers hands on learning opportunities in the classroom and community, and uses a holistic framework that considers youths' emotional, social, and academic needs. A balance of group and 1-1 settings aids in education recovery because each student receives tailored, meaningful, and timely support."
Kids Code Jeunesse: Building Sustainable Learning Pathways (
"From a fun and immersive coding introduction to a sustainable learning environment, we'll use coding as a catalyst to enhance learners' math skills outcomes. We'll partner with youth serving community organizations who serve historically marginalized and racialized learners to be part of their extra-curricular program activities."
MY TURN: Project Complete (
"Project Complete is an expansion of MY TURN's existing
South Asian Youth Centre: SAYA Elmhurst Center Academic Readiness + Mentoring Initiative (
"South Asian Youth Centre will restructure and expand our mentorship and academic readiness initiative by providing stipends to mentors, supporting existing staff members who oversee this work, and hiring a part-time Academic Readiness Coordinator and SAT Instructor. The goal of the initiative is to ensure sustainable academic gains and minimize learning loss in the areas of math, reading, writing, and communication."
Victoria Native Friendship Centre: Victoria Native Friendship Centre
"The Victoria Native Friendship Centre's
To learn more about the 2021 grant recipients and the TD Ready Challenge, visit www.td.com/readychallenge.
About the TD Ready Commitment
TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to help open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet,
About
The
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i | Dorn, E. et al. (2020), COVID-19 and learning loss—disparities grow and students need help, |
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