What is Self-Advocacy

A study conducted by Dr. Alan King in the early 2000s exposed low secondary school graduation rates and a variety of indicators of a student's likelihood of success in graduating. Premier Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government responded with a reform aimed at changing educational practices through the Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategy (SS/L18) in 2003 and Policy/Program Memorandum No. 137 in 2005. This drove a province-wide effort to support students ‘in-risk' of not graduating with a multitude of new resources and policies. Ontario's secondary school graduation rates have since increased to 82 percent, however, a variety of barriers to student success remain both socially and culturally in Ontario schools. The absence of student social and cultural capital can diminish educational opportunities for students which is problematic for an equitable system. This chapter explores the history of Student Success initiatives, the unique role played by Student Success Teachers and L.E.A.D. teacher candidates, and further areas of need to be addressed in closing the gap in education.