Published plans and annual reports 2020-2021: Ministry of Education

Ministry overview and purpose

The Ministry of Education is responsible for administering child care and Ontario's publicly funded education system (Kindergarten to Grade 12). From a child's earliest years, and through elementary and secondary school, Ontario's education system is committed to ensuring children and students have the skills and knowledge they need to reach their full potential and achieve lifelong success.

The Ministry of Education is also committed to ensuring a sustainable world-class education system for the students of today and the future.

2020-21 strategic plan

Students are facing new, complex challenges in a rapidly changing world. Therefore, we need a modern, sustainable, world-class education system that ensures students have the skills and knowledge to succeed in school, life, and beyond. Students also need to feel welcome, safe and respected, and protected from discrimination and bullying.

We must also ensure our education system is modern, flexible, and high-performing, yet sustainable – where tax dollars are focused on the classroom.

This will help all students reach their full potential, and succeed after high school, in postsecondary education, the skilled trades, their communities, and in the modern workforce.

Early years and child care programs

A strong child care and early years system plays a key role in helping families and putting children on a path to lifelong success. Ontario is committed to ensuring children and families have access to a range of healthy, affordable, inclusive, safe, and high-quality early years and child care programs where parents have the flexibility to choose options that work best for their families.

Kindergarten to grade 12

The Ministry of Education provides policy and program direction, and financial support to district school boards, school authorities, schools and agencies. Ontario is fostering and sustaining a high-quality education system for all students in the province to prepare them to graduate with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in school, work and life.

Ministry programs and highlights of 2019-20 achievements

Ontario is committed to preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow.

The Ministry of Education continues to improve the performance of our child care and education systems to support all children and students in acquiring the skills they need to thrive in the labour market, and in life, by:

• developing a new child care plan that meets the needs of parents, caregivers and families
• modernizing learning through revised curricula and new delivery approaches
• building a more equitable system that offers all students the chance to succeed
• promoting opportunities for all students to see technology, skilled trades and apprenticeship pathways as viable options
• driving system efficiencies and reducing administrative burden
• deriving more value from education system resources and assets

Below is an overview of the Ministry of Education's 2019-20 accomplishments. For more information, please refer to the ministry's annual report, or visit Ontario's official news source.

• Government continues to improve education
• Supporting child care professionals
• Modernizing education funding for the 2019-20 school year
• Supporting new French-language secondary school in Vaughan
• Supporting French-language education
• Revised First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies curriculum
• Revised career studies course launched to inspire next generation
• Renewing Ontario schools and strengthening student learning
• Expanding learning opportunities in STEM and skilled trades
• Updated elementary health and physical education curriculum
• First Year investment of Ontario's four-year math strategy announced
• Cellphone restriction in classrooms
• Historic investment in Ontario's Francophone students
• Supports for students with special needs
• Support for parents
• Improved access to education for First Nation students
• Ontario Backs New Community School in Meaford
• Ontario more than doubles mental health funding for students
• Creation of more than 19,000 child care spaces
• Major program investment in the skilled trades
• Ratification of CUPE central agreement
• Ontario moves forward with child care retrofit in Cannington
• Enhancing online learning
• Taking new actions to combat bullying in schools
• Applications for the minister's advisory council on special education
• Ontario reviews student transportation to improve service for students and families
• Ontario funds new French-language high school in east Toronto
• Ratification of EWAOcentral agreement
• Ontario combatting bullying in schools through student survey
• Minister of Education releases final report on Near North District School Board
• A fair plan to keep students in class
• Final report on Peel District School Board
• Tentative agreement with OECTA

Alignment of programs with the government's priorities

The following chart outlines the key government priorities that the ministry directly supports through its range of services and supports.

COVID-19 response

The health and well-being of every Ontarian is the government's number one priority. Ontario's public health system has demonstrated remarkable responsiveness to COVID‑19, as the situation has evolved globally.

As the COVID‑19 outbreak continued to evolve locally and globally, Ontario has been taking action to ensure the province's health care system is prepared to continue to protect the health and well-being of Ontarians.

Ontario continues to modernize education funding so students can succeed in school, life and beyond – while ensuring investments have the greatest impact in the classroom as the province responds to the COVID‑19 outbreak.

The government announced the following investments (up to March 25, 2020) in response to the COVID‑19 outbreak:

• On March 20, Premier Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education announced the launch the first phase of Learn at Home and Apprendre à la maison, a new online portal that provides resources for families so students can continue to learn while schools are closed due to the outbreak of COVID‑19.
• On March 22, the government announced that in order to support health care and other frontline workers during this COVID‑19 outbreak, Ontario is exempting certain child care centres from the order to close all licensed child care centres pursuant to the state of emergency declared. This initiative is in partnership with service system managers and First Nations who identify appropriate locations. A list of emergency child care locations is available on the Ontario government's website.
• On March 25, the Ontario government announced that it is offering direct financial support to parents while Ontario schools and child care centres remain closed as a result of the COVID‑19 outbreak. The new Support for Families initiative offers a one-time payment of $200 per child 0-12 years of age, and $250 for those 0-21 years of age with special needs.

Please visit Ontario's website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID‑19.

Ministry financial information

The following chart depicts the ministry's investment in 2020-21 in activities that provide Ontario students with an excellent and accountable elementary/secondary education, so their futures and that of the province will be characterized by continued prosperity, stability and growth.

Chart 1: 2020-21 Ministry Budget by Program (Operating Expense ^{footnote 1[1]})

Note: Numbers and percentages may not appear to add due to rounding.

Chart 2: 2020-21 Ministry Budget by Program (Capital Expense ^{footnote 2[2]})

Note: Numbers and percentages may not appear to add due to rounding.

Chart 3: 2020-21 2020-21 Ministry Expenditure (Operating and Capital) ^{footnote 5[5]}

Note: Numbers and percentages may not appear to add due to rounding.

For additional financial information, see:

• https://www.ontario.ca//page/expenditure-estimates
• https://www.ontario.ca//page/public-accounts
• https://budget.ontario.ca/2020/marchupdate/index.html

Note:

• Not including consolidation adjustments.

The ministry is responsible for the following classified agencies:

Operational Enterprise Agencies

Ontario Educational Communications Authority

The Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVO) is Ontario's publicly funded educational media organization. TVO provides high-quality English-language educational programming and services through broadcast, distance education, and interactive web access. Distance education for secondary school credit is provided through the Independent Learning Centre. TVO is governed by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority Act. Its broadcast licence is governed by the federal Broadcasting Act and CRTC licensing.

Office des télécommunications éducatives de langue française de l'Ontario

The Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority (TFO) provides high-quality educational and cultural multimedia services and content to the 12 French-language school boards and the broader Franco-Ontarian community. The organization also provides French as a Second Language resources to Ontario's 60 English-language school boards. TFO's programming, support services and resources contribute to meeting the ministry's student success priorities. TFO focuses on French-language and culture initiatives, that support the early years, literacy and numeracy, eLearning, and the Politique d'aménagement linguistique (PAL).

Operational Service Agencies

Education Quality and Accountability Office

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) conducts large-scale census assessments of student achievement: Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in reading, writing and mathematics; Grade 9 students in mathematics; and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, typically administered in Grade 10, which is the primary means of satisfying the Ontario literacy requirement for graduation. EQAO publishes annual results for each of its assessments in English and French and provides the education system with board, school and individual student level results. EQAO also administers Ontario's participation in national and international testing such as Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).

Provincial Schools Authority

The Provincial Schools Authority (PSA) was established as an agency of the Ministry of Education in 1975 under the Provincial Schools Negotiations Act. The PSA is the employer of record for teachers employed in provincially operated schools. These employees are represented by the Provincial Schools Authority Teachers (PSAT), which is a district of the Ontario PSATSecondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF). The PSA is also the employer of record for principals and vice principals in provincially operated schools. The principals and vice principals are not represented by a union and do not have a collective agreement. The PSA reviews and advises on the terms and conditions of employment for principals and vice-principals. The PSA also handles grievances, leaves and related administrative functions.

Advisory Agencies

Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education

The Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE) advises the Minister on any matter related to the establishment and provision of special education programs and services for students with special education needs.

Ministry organization chart

• Minister, Stephen Lecce
  • Parliamentary Assistant, Sam Oosterhoff
    • Deputy Minister, Nancy Naylor
      • Special Advisor, Martyn Beckett
      • Communications Branch, Lenni Eubanks
      • Executive Assistant, Vanessa Bennett (Acting)
      • Education Equity Secretariat, Patrick Case
        • Education Equity Initiatives Branch, Rachel Osborne (Acting)
        • Executive Assistant, Mercilyn Baxter (Acting)
        • System Planning, Research & Innovation Division, Shannon Fuller, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Thuwanika Kandasamy (Acting)
          • Strategic Policy & Initiatives Branch, Nicole Simone (Acting)
          • Education Research & Evaluation Strategy Branch, Erica Van Roosemalen
          • System Evidence and Design Branch, Andrew Sally (Acting)
          • Education Statistics and Analysis Branch, Eric Ward
          • Strategic Planning & Transformation Branch, Russ Riddell
        • Education Labour & Finance Division, Andrew Davis, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Douglas Ngira-Batware (Acting)
          • Education Labour Relations Office, Brian Blakeley
          • Labour Relations Operations Branch, Lynda Coulter
          • Labour Relations Operations (Bilingual) & Policy Branch, Sandi Tanner
          • Education Finance Office, Doreen Lamarche
          • Education Funding Branch, Paul Duffy
          • Financial Analysis & Accountability Branch, Med Ahmadoun
          • Labour & Finance Implementation Branch, Romina Di Pasquale
        • Capital & Business Support Division, Didem Proulx, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Dhrti Chander (Acting)
          • Capital Policy Branch, Andrea Dutton (Acting)
          • Capital Program Branch, Paul Bloye
          • School Board Business Support Branch, Colleen Hogan (Acting)
          • Leadership, Collaboration & Governance Branch, Bruce Drewett
        • Early Years & Child Care Division, Shannon Fuller, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Amy Lee (Acting)
          • Early Years & Child Care Programs & Service Integration Branch, Jill Dubrick
          • Child Care Quality Assurance & Licensing Branch, Boafoa Kwamena (Acting)
          • Financial Accountability & Data Analytics Branch, Becky Doyle
        • Indigenous Education & Well Being Division, Denise Dwyer, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Jennifer Ng (Acting)
          • Indigenous Education Office, Taunya Paquette
          • Safe & Healthy Schools Branch, Vena Persaud (Acting)
          • Inclusive Education, Priorities & Engagement Branch, Suzanne Gordon
        • Student Support & Field Services Division, Shirley Kendrick and Jeff Butler (Acting)
          • Executive Assistant, Silva Boghossian (Acting)
          • Special Education / Success for All Branch, Claudine Munroe
          • Provincial & Demonstration Schools Branch, Karyn Bruneel
          • Field Services Branch [Regional Offices: Barrie; London; Ottawa; Sudbury-North Bay; Thunder Bay; and Toronto and Area], Parm Bhatthal
        • Student Achievement Division, Yael Ginsler (Acting), Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Lauren Inouye (Acting)
          • Professionalism, Teaching Policy & Standards Branch, Demetra Saldaris
          • Curriculum Assessment & Student Success Policy Branch, Dianne Oliphant (Acting)
          • Skills Development & Apprenticeship Branch, Pauline McNaughton (Acting)
          • Student Achievement Supports Branch, Vacant
        • French Language Teaching, Learning & Achievement Division, Denys Giguère, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Shabbirr Auhammud (Acting)
          • French-Language Education, Policies and Programs Branch, Luc Davet
          • French-Language Teaching & Learning Branch, Linda Lacroix
          • French-Language Priorities Branch (MCU) Gilles Fortin
        • Corporate Management and Services Division, Jill Hughes, Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Caroline Noakes
          • Strategic Human Resources Branch, Nadine Ramdial
          • Corporate Coordination Branch, Sarah Truscott
          • Corporate Finance and Services Branch, Mersad Fard (Acting)
          • Ontario Internal Audit Education Audit Service Team, Michael Benn (Acting)
          • Legal Services Branch, Shannon Chace
        • Community Services I&IT Cluster, Soussan Tabari, Chief Information Officer / Assistant Deputy Minister
          • Executive Assistant, Marie Dearlove
          • iACCESS Solutions Branch, Sanjay Madan
          • Strategic Planning and Business Relationship Management Branch, Aleli Gulak (Acting)
          • Data Collection and Decision Support Solutions Branch, Carm Scarfo
          • Case and Grant Management Solutions Branch, Sanaul Haque
        • Agencies, Boards, and Commissions:
          • Advisory Council on Special Education
          • Education Quality and Accountability Office
          • Languages of Instruction Commission of Ontario
          • Ontario Educational Communications Authority
          • Ontario French-Language Educational Communications Authority
          • Provincial Schools Authority

Download printer-friendly organization chart (JPG, 79 Ko).

Appendix A: 2019-20 Annual Report

The Ministry of Education administers Ontario's child care, early years, and publicly funded education systems.

The Ministry of Education is also committed to helping children and students reach their full potential and achieve lifelong success – while ensuring Ontario's world-class education system remains sustainable for the students of today and tomorrow.

Highlights of 2019-20 achievements

Below is an overview of the Ministry of Education's 2019-20 accomplishments. For more information, visit Ontario's official news source.

Government continues to improve education

Ontario is standing up for students and parents by protecting and modernizing the province's publicly funded education system. The Legislature has passed legislative amendments that will help keep classrooms safe, and also ensure that children and students are better supported in their learning.

Supporting child care professionals

Ontario's government is providing support for child care professionals that will ensure our province provides the very best child care options for parents and families.

Eligible staff working in a licensed child care program or agency continue to receive increased wages of up to $2 an hour, while home child care providers working with a licensed child care agency are eligible for a grant of up to $20 a day. This investment strengthens Ontario's child care system by retaining more registered early childhood educators and other qualified professionals.

Modernizing education funding for the 2019-20 school year

The Ontario government is protecting what matters most through a modernized approach to education reform which will better utilize technology, give students the skills they need to succeed, protect front-line teachers and ensure every dollar spent benefits students.

Investments in Ontario's publicly funded education system through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) were projected to be $24.66 billion in 2019-20, while per-pupil funding was projected to be $12,246. Changes to class size in the province's education funding model were accompanied by a new Teacher Job Protection Funding Allocation so that changes could be managed through teacher retirements and other voluntary leaves.

The government also established a new $330 million Priorities and Partnerships Funding (PPF) to support the ministry's vision with time-limited investments. This funding focuses on high-impact initiatives that directly support students in the classroom, replacing the previous Education Program Other (EPO) Grants.

Supporting new French-language secondary school in Vaughan

Ontario is investing in new local schools to help provide students with a world-class education system that ensures they have the skills they need to succeed. The province provided $22.6 million in funding to help secure the location for a new French-language Catholic secondary school in Vaughan.

Supporting French-language education

Ontario is investing in new local schools to help provide healthy, safe and accessible learning environments for students. The province invested $19.41 million in several projects and initiatives to support students, parents and teachers in French-language schools.

This investment is part of the new $330 million Priorities and Partnerships Funding (PPF) which funds high-impact initiatives that directly support students in the classroom.

Revised First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies curriculum

Ontario is supporting Indigenous students and Indigenous education by releasing the revised First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies, Grades 9-12, curriculum in May 2019. It is available on the Ministry of Education website for school boards, educators, parents, and Indigenous communities and partners and was implemented in schools in September 2019.

The curriculum is comprised of ten secondary courses. These elective courses provide students with up-to-date learning about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives, cultures, contributions and contemporary realities in areas such as art, literature, law, humanities, politics and history. It also enhances the ability for educators to support students in their learning. To implement the revised First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies curriculum, the Ontario government committed $3.25 million to support school boards.

Revised career studies course launched to inspire next generation

In July 2019, Ontario announced that the revised Grade 10 Career Studies Course was available on the Ministry of Education website. The revised course was implemented in schools in September 2019 with a central focus on the jobs of the future.

The revised Career Studies course, which is a mandatory requirement for achieving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, now includes learning on financial literacy and an enhanced focus on career pathways, such as apprenticeships in the skilled trades.

Renewing Ontario schools and strengthening student learning

Ontario's government is working with its school board partners to support the expansion of new school buildings and child care spaces, as well as major renovations and additions to existing schools.

Ontario launched the 2019-20 Capital Priorities program, which provides school boards with the opportunity to access funding for large-scale projects in every region of the province.

School boards applied for funding for capital projects including new school buildings or renovations to be completed by 2023-24. The program also provides funding for school-based child care spaces as part of the government's commitment to build up to 10,000 new child care spaces in schools.

Ontario continues to provide school boards with capital funding to maintain and improve schools.

Expanding learning opportunities in STEM and skilled trades

Ontario is putting a renewed focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as well as the skilled trades.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange signed an agreement to enhance learning opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering and math as well as the skilled trades.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ontario and Alberta supports and enhances opportunities for elementary and secondary students in STEM fields and ensures that the skilled trades are recognized as a career of choice by young people, parents and educators.

Updated elementary health and physical education curriculum

In August, the Ontario government released the updated elementary Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum. It is available on the Ministry of Education website, along with a parent-friendly resource on what children will learn in each grade, and was implemented in schools in September 2019.

Following the province's largest consultation on education, the elementary Health and Physical Education curriculum was updated to reflect public feedback, research and advice from experts.

The province introduced an enhanced and inclusive Health and Physical Education curriculum for Grades 1-8 that relates to the everyday experiences of students. It provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to lead safe, healthy, and active lives.

As a result of these enhancements, the elementary Health and Physical Education curriculum makes Ontario a leader in teaching students about:

• Mental health, including social-emotional learning skills
• Concussions
• The effects and consequences of vaping and cannabis
• Cyber safety, including bullying prevention and digital privacy
• Healthy eating and body image
• Healthy relationships, including consent.

First year investment of Ontario's four-year math strategy announced

Ontario announced the details of the new four-year $200 million math strategy to get back to basics and make sure students and educators have the math skills and resources to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

The first year of funding under the new $200 million math strategy began with an initial investment of $55 million in the 2019-2020 school year. This investment supports critical programming and resources for students and educators alike, by focusing on teaching fundamentals.

Cellphone restriction in classrooms

The Ontario government announced plans to restrict the use of cellphones and other personal mobile devices in classrooms, which came into effect on November 4, 2019.

The restriction applies to instructional time at school, however, exceptions would be made if cellphones are required for health and medical purposes, to support special education needs, or for educational purposes as directed by an educator.

Historic Investment in Ontario's Francophone Students

Ontario announced funding of $26 million for the 2019-20 school year to invest in French-language education in this province. The government also announced the outcome of negotiations with the federal government which will deliver an additional $4 million annually to support French-language education in Ontario. This additional funding will be allocated to school boards and postsecondary institutions.

Supports for Students with Special Education Needs

Ontario's government is supporting students and their families when making requests to bring their service animals into schools and classrooms. On September 9, 2019, Ontario released Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) No. 163: School Board Policies on Service Animals. The PPM sets out the standards by which school boards in Ontario are required to develop, implement, and maintain their own policies on student use of service animals in schools.

With the release of the PPM, the Ministry of Education has effectively set a uniform standard for student requests for service animals across the province.

Support for Parents Program: Financial Assistance to Parents During Labour Action

Ontario launched its Support for Parents program to provide financial support for parents during education sector labour disruptions. Support was provided for each day of school that a child missed or each day of child care that was not available on account of a strike.

Eligible parents of children up to age 12 (Grade 7), or up to age 21 for children and youth with special needs, in a publicly funded school, qualified for:

• $60 per day for children aged 0-6 who are not yet enrolled in school but attend a school-based child care centre that was required to close on account of the strike
• $40 per day for students in Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Senior Kindergarten (SK)
• $25 per day for students in Grades 1 up to and including Grade 7
• $40 total per day for students in JK up to and including Grade 12 with a special need(s)

Improved access to education for First Nation students

Ontario announced the Reciprocal Education Approach (REA), a historic step forward for First Nation students that removes barriers to quality education. The government announced the creation of a transparent process to allow all First Nation students to seamlessly access educational pursuits without delay, which came into effect September 1, 2019.

The REA ensures eligible First Nation students and their families are supported by a consistent and transparent process when they choose to study at a provincially funded school or a First Nation-operated/federally operated school.

Ontario backs new community school in Meaford

The Government of Ontario approved a new junior kindergarten to Grade 12 school building to provide modern learning environments for students in the Meaford area. The future school building will also offer local families an EarlyON Child and Family Centre room, where parents and their young children can access free early learning activities and resources.

When completed, the new school will accommodate more than 1,000 students from the surrounding area. The new building will be built on the St. Vincent-Euphrasia Elementary School site in Meaford.

Ontario more than doubles mental health funding for students

On World Mental Health Day, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced an investment of nearly $40 million, more than double the funding from 2017-18, to advance student mental health in partnership with education groups.

The government also announced that it will permanently fund approximately 180 frontline mental health workers in secondary schools (social workers, psychologists and psychotherapists) to reduce wait times and improve access to critical services.

Creation of more than 19,000 child care spaces

The government announced that the province's public and private sectors created more than 19,000 licensed child care spaces in 2018-19, according to a new report from the Ministry of Education.

Research shows a clear link between a solid foundation in children's early years and their long-term development and success. That is why Ontario is committed to improving access to child care, giving parents more choice and making high-quality programs affordable.

Major program investment in the skilled trades

Ontario announced a record-level investment to support expansion of the province's Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program to include an additional 122 new programs aimed at encouraging more high school students to enter the skilled trades.

Ratification of CUPE central agreement

The central agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representing 55,000 education workers across the province, including custodians, education assistants, early childhood educators, and clerical staff was ratified by school boards and the union, and agreed to by the Government of Ontario.

The agreement was reached while respecting taxpayers, students and families, and recognizing the important contributions of front-line education workers. It reflects the government's commitment to a fiscally sustainable publicly funded education system.

The CUPE three-year collective agreement is effective September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2022.

Ratification of EWAO central agreement

The central agreement with the Education Workers' Alliance of Ontario (EWAO), representing 3,975 education workers across the province, was ratified by school boards and the unions and agreed to by the Government of Ontario. The EWAO represents education assistants, early childhood educators and professional services, custodial and maintenance staff.

The EWAO three-year collective agreement is effective September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2022.

Ontario moves forward with child care retrofit in Cannington

Ontario's Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, has provided the Durham District School Board with approval for a child care retrofit at McCaskill's Mills Public School. The retrofit will include an infant room with 10 new, modern child care spaces. Cannington-area families with children younger than 12 years will benefit from these modern learning spaces.

In 2019-20, Ontario invested more than $2 billion and committed to creating up to 30,000 new child care spaces in schools to build a stronger child care and early years system. In fact, a new report from the Ministry of Education shows that the province's public and private sectors have already created over 19,000 licensed child care spaces in 2018-19.

Enhancing online learning

The Ontario government is taking important steps to increase student access to high-quality public education and turn Ontario into a global leader of modern and digital education.

In November 2019, the government announced that Ontario students will be required to take two online credits to graduate from secondary school. The cohort of students that begin graduating in the 2023-2024 school year will be the first one that will be required to complete online courses.

On March 3, 2020, the government also announced that parents will have the opportunity to engage with their child's guidance counsellor to determine whether online learning is appropriate and beneficial for their child, with the option to opt out of the mandatory online learning courses required for graduation. By expanding and modernizing online learning, students will have greater flexibility, more choice and will graduate with the skills needed to enter the workforce.

Taking new actions to combat bullying in schools

On November 27, 2019, the Minister of Education announced five new measures to prevent and combat bullying in Ontario schools to improve student safety and well-being.

These steps include:

• The assignment of Christina Mitas, MPP for Scarborough Centre and former teacher, to advise the Minister on education matters with a focus on bullying prevention
• A province-wide survey to better understand students' experiences with bullying
• Training for educators in anti-bullying and de-escalation techniques
• A review of school reporting practices on bullying
• A review of the definition of bullying in ministry policies to ensure it reflects the realities of today.

Applications for the minister's advisory council on special education

Ontario announced that it is seeking interested individuals to apply for the Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE). The Council members provide advice to the Minister of Education on the development and delivery of special education programs and services.

Members advise on the delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students and are consulted on ministry proposals for new programs and services or changes to existing ones.

The deadline for interested individuals to apply through the Public Appointments Secretariat was Friday, March 6, 2020.

Ontario reviews student transportation to improve service for students and families

The Ministry of Education is moving forward with a review of student transportation in order to achieve a more efficient and accountable student transportation system in Ontario. The ministry is working with stakeholders to gather input on student transportation funding, the consortia model and operations, as well as procurement and contract practices.

First announced in March 2019, the review responded to calls from student transportation partners to improve the funding formula, which could be more responsive to the changing needs and costs encountered by school boards. The review is also a follow-up to the Auditor General's 2015 value-for-money audit that recommended the government revisit the funding formula.

Ontario funds new French-language high school in east Toronto

The Government of Ontario provided Conseil scolaire Viamonde with $10.2 million to purchase the former Greenwood Secondary School site from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). This will be the new home for a French-language school project in East Toronto. The future school will accommodate 501 students from grades 7-12 and is part of the province's plan to support students with better learning spaces.

Ontario combatting bullying in schools through student survey

On February 26, 2020, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the launch of an online survey to hear from students, parents and guardians and school staff about their experiences with bullying in Ontario schools. A resource for parents and guardians accompanied the survey with tips to encourage conversation about bullying with their children.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 21 per cent of Ontario students in grades 7-12 have reported being bullied at school. This survey seeks to gain a better understanding of the issue, ideas on how to better prevent and report bullying, and new ways to make schools safer.

Minister of Education releases final report on Near North District School Board

Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, released the final report from Special Advisors on the Near North District School Board (NNDSB).

In 2019, the board reached out to the Ministry of Education for support regarding the challenges it faces with respect to governance, human resources practices and financial accountability.

The government responded by appointing Wayne Joudrie and Wally Easton to conduct a review. The final report includes advice and recommendations to help ensure the board has the tools it needs to make necessary changes and improve public confidence in the board and in Ontario's publicly funded education system.

A fair plan to keep students in class

On March 3, 2020, the government announced its most recent proposal put forward to all teacher unions, with a focus on getting a deal:

• a commitment to a funded maximum average class size of 23 in secondary schools — leaving them essentially the same as 2019-20
• replace the previous Local Priorities Fund with a new, student-centric Supports for Students Fund, which allows boards more flexibility to address students' unique learning needs, including special education, mental health, and STEM education
• the Supports for Students Fund would continue at $148 million, the same funding amount of the Local Priorities Fund
• a commitment to maintain full-day kindergarten, and
• reasonable increases in wages and compensation

The government also announced a policy to give parents the ability to opt their children out of the mandatory online courses required for graduation, and merit-based teacher hiring.

Final report on Peel District School Board

In March 2020, the Minister of Education, released the reviewers' final report on the Peel District School Board (PDSB) review.

The report included recommendations that provided specific actions that the board should undertake to better serve its students, staff, and to rebuild public confidence. The 29 recommendations in the report focused on equity, human rights and anti-Black racism, governance and leadership, and human resources.

On March 13, the Minister issued 27 binding directions to the board, informed by the reviewer's report and recommendations.

Effective, transparent and accountable school board governance is essential to the success and well-being of all students in Ontario's publicly funded schools. That is why the province moved swiftly to ensure accountability for students and is committed to working closely with the board to make sure progress is made.

Agreements with employee bargaining groups

Memoranda of settlement of central terms, effective September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2022, have been reached with all nine employee groups concluding this round of bargaining. The nine central bargaining group are as follows:

• The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
• The Education Workers' Alliance of Ontario (EWAO)
• The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA)
• Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) – teachers and education workers
• The Ontario Council of Education Workers' (OCEW)
• L'Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), and
• The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)

These agreement advance priorities, help ensure stability for students and parents and provides fairness to teachers and education workers.

Ontario's response to COVID‑19 outbreak

The health and well-being of every Ontarian is the government's number one priority. Ontario's public health system has demonstrated remarkable responsiveness to COVID‑19, as the situation has evolved globally.

As the COVID‑19 outbreak continued to evolve locally and globally, Ontario has been taking action to ensure the province's health care system is prepared to continue to protect the health and well-being of Ontarians.

On March 17, 2020, Ontario enacted a declaration of a provincial emergency, acting on expert advice from our Chief Medical Officer of Health as well as members of Ontario's COVID‑19 Command Table.

The government took this extraordinary measure to help our health care sector fight the spread of COVID‑19. We know these measures are necessary to stop the spread of COVID‑19 and protect all Ontarians.

All actions taken to date by the Ontario government have been based on the advice of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and Ontario's COVID‑19 Command Table.

That includes but are not limited to: encouraging social distancing by requiring the closure of schools and licensed child care centres, requiring restaurants and bars to offer delivery or drive-through services only and requiring the closure of recreational programs and theatres.

Investments to Support Ontario's Response to COVID‑19

On March 25, 2020, Ontario released Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID‑19 (March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update).

The March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update provides planning assumptions for the year ahead. The Province is projecting a deficit of $9.2 billion in 2019-20, an improvement of $1.1 billion relative to the 2019 Budget. As a result of the response to the COVID‑19 outbreak, the government is planning for a deficit of $20.5 billion in 2020-21.

Ontario is also ensuring that investments made in education have the greatest impact on student learning and are helping students continue their education while schools are closed due to the COVID‑19 outbreak.

Some of these investments are listed below (included up to March 25, 2020).

Ontario helping students learn from the safety of their own home

On March 20, Premier Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education announced the launch the first phase of Learn at Home and Apprendre à la maison, a new online portal that provides resources for families so students can continue to learn while schools are closed due to the outbreak of COVID‑19.

Learn at Home offers all students quick and easy access to some of Ontario's best online Kindergarten to Grade 12 learning resources. It also has a section of additional educational resources that parents and students can use while at home. Most resources are available in English and French. The resources support independent learning without the normal facilitation of a teacher.

Elementary resources are designed to help young students learn at home with interactive activities that encourage participation through entertaining and stimulating digital content.

High school content was designed to ensure core competencies and skills are reinforced. The government is also providing access to course content for students who take the initiative to refresh and extend their learning.

Province takes steps to ensure frontline staff can continue to work

In order to support health care and other frontline workers during this COVID‑19 outbreak, Ontario is exempting certain child care centres from the order to close all licensed child care centres pursuant to the state of emergency declared. This initiative is in partnership with service system managers and First Nations who identify appropriate locations.

Health care and other frontline workers, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, police, and correctional officers, are able to access safe, local emergency child care. These child care centres are required to follow strict health and safety requirements and have a plan in place should any staff, children or parents be exposed to the virus.

A list of emergency child care locations is available on the Ontario government's website.

In addition to child care centres approved to provide emergency care for frontline workers, home-based child care (licensed and unlicensed) continues to be an option for parents who need care, as it is not included in the order to close.

Province providing one-time financial assistance during school and child care closures

On March 25, the Ontario government announced that it is offering direct financial support to parents while Ontario schools and child care centres remain closed as a result of the COVID‑19 outbreak.

The new Support for Families initiative offers a one-time payment of $200 per child 0-12 years of age, and $250 for those 0-21 years of age with special needs.

Please visit Ontario's website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID‑19.

ISSN 2369-1905 (online)