Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's Initiative on the New Economy Collaborative Research Grant in 2003.

Our research is being conducted by a team of scholars from across Canada. Click here to view the pan-Canadian team.

Two milestones of Canada’s Innovation strategy (HRDC, 2002) are that: (1) Canada becomes one of the top three countries in mathematics, science and reading achievement, and (2) all students who graduate from high school achieve a level of literacy sufficient to participate in the knowledge-based economy. To reach these milestones, Canada must raise levels of literacy, especially for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The aim of this collaborative research program is to bring together a multidisciplinary team of researchers who can focus their research and training efforts on a single question: “How can we raise and level the bar?”, or specifically “How can we improve the learning, behaviour, and health outcomes of our youth, while reducing inequalities associated with family background?”.