During the upcoming academic year, the Mercaz will shift from its traditional way of providing educational services to a new initiative known as Quality Review and Enhancement (QRE). 

Overall objectives of the QRE are to:

• Focus on the quality of education in our schools and programs
• Establish a reliable mechanism of ongoing school improvement
• Enable all students to reach their highest learning potential
• Enhance communication and resource sharing among Jewish day schools and supplementary programs.

Differentiated Learning
In its first phase, the pedagogic theory guiding the QRE is differentiated learning, supported by research and widely considered the most effective way for schools to ensure successful learning. The principles of differentiated learning apply to both Judaic and general studies- to every subject and content area. While not everything needs to be differentiated for every student, the expectation is that differentiated instruction will become the norm in every classroom.  

חנוך לנער על פי דרכו            (Proverbs  22:6) “Educate the child in his or her way”
“Children know how to learn in more ways than we know how to teach” (Ronald Edmonds)

This is a complex multilayered process, some highlights include:

• High quality Jewish education encompasses the whole child including academic, emotional, social and spiritual domains- a commitment to the whole child.
• Teachers are key agents of change
• Professional development is seen as a capacity-building process
• Supportive leadership is critical for success
• Educational research informs practice
• Improvement efforts in each school will rely on a cyclical process which will include formulating an action plan guided by SMART goals, implementing action, assessment and evaluation.
• Providing enhancements is an integral part of the QRE process. The Mercaz will offer participating schools resource materials, in-house workshops, assistance in data collection and interpretation, as well as monetary incentives to help educators attend conferences and undergo training.

It is the Mercaz’s conviction that building on the remarkable foundation of Jewish day schools and supplementary programs and together with the QRE initiative, Toronto’s Jewish community of schools affiliated with UJA Federation will evolve from good to great!

With best wishes for a שנה טובה
Yael Seliger