Regulation - LGIC
The Education Act as amended by The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 - Supporting Regulation: Provincial Priorities - Student Achievement
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Education Act
Summary of Decision:
This regulation was filed on July 27, 2023 and came into force on July 28, 2023.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The proposed regulatory amendments are not expected to create significant, additional administrative requirements for school boards. The Education Act already requires school boards to undertake multi-year planning. While adjustments to these existing processes will be required, the Ministry of Education will work with school boards to support implementation. The proposed regulatory amendment will not create any fiscal impacts for the provincial government.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
23-EDU005
Posting Date:
August 4, 2023
Summary of Proposal:
On June 8, 2023, The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 (the Act) received Royal Assent. A key element of the Act is to achieve a uniform focus on student achievement in Ontario's publicly-funded education system, through the establishment of a provincial priorities framework focused on this theme, to support school boards' multi-year planning processes.
The proposed new regulation would outline provincial priorities on student achievement, pursuant to Section 11.2 of the Education Act, and would be reviewed at least every three years. This regulation is in development and will be a key component of the framework.
The following three provincial priorities would be identified in the proposed regulation:
• Learning Outcomes: Supporting students to succeed in core academic skills, focusing on reading, writing and math. Indicators would include the results of recent Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments.
• Preparing Students for the Future: Providing students with the skills needed to succeed in life, including in the skilled trades. Indicators would include credit accumulation, graduation rates and enrollment in certain courses and job skills programs.
• Student Engagement & Well-Being: Ensuring students are engaged in a safe and supportive learning environment that leads to graduation, higher learning and employment. Indicators would include student attendance and suspension rates.
The system-wide performance indicators included under each priority above would not be in the proposed regulation, but would be set out in a Student Achievement Plan (SAP) tool to be released before the start of the 2023-24 school year to support school boards in their multi-year planning processes. School boards have the flexibility to take into account local needs and perspectives including Francophone and/or Catholic needs, when developing plans to address provincial priorities, adapt plans to local needs and to take into account their diverse perspectives such as, for example, French-language and/or Catholic boards.
As outlined in the Act, school boards are expected to engage with students, staff, communities and above all with parents, and to use quantitative and qualitative data to develop multi-year plans that are responsive to local needs. More specifically, boards are required to engage parents within the first two months and last two months of the school year regarding their multi-year plan as it relates to addressing and reporting on provincial priorities.
Boards are required to publicly post their multi-year plan, which covers three or more school years. Each school year, boards will report on their progress on the provincial priorities and how their action plans have improved student outcomes.
The proposed new regulation would outline provincial priorities on student achievement, pursuant to Section 11.2 of the Education Act, and would be reviewed at least every three years. This regulation is in development and will be a key component of the framework.
The following three provincial priorities would be identified in the proposed regulation:
• Learning Outcomes: Supporting students to succeed in core academic skills, focusing on reading, writing and math. Indicators would include the results of recent Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments.
• Preparing Students for the Future: Providing students with the skills needed to succeed in life, including in the skilled trades. Indicators would include credit accumulation, graduation rates and enrollment in certain courses and job skills programs.
• Student Engagement & Well-Being: Ensuring students are engaged in a safe and supportive learning environment that leads to graduation, higher learning and employment. Indicators would include student attendance and suspension rates.
The system-wide performance indicators included under each priority above would not be in the proposed regulation, but would be set out in a Student Achievement Plan (SAP) tool to be released before the start of the 2023-24 school year to support school boards in their multi-year planning processes. School boards have the flexibility to take into account local needs and perspectives including Francophone and/or Catholic needs, when developing plans to address provincial priorities, adapt plans to local needs and to take into account their diverse perspectives such as, for example, French-language and/or Catholic boards.
As outlined in the Act, school boards are expected to engage with students, staff, communities and above all with parents, and to use quantitative and qualitative data to develop multi-year plans that are responsive to local needs. More specifically, boards are required to engage parents within the first two months and last two months of the school year regarding their multi-year plan as it relates to addressing and reporting on provincial priorities.
Boards are required to publicly post their multi-year plan, which covers three or more school years. Each school year, boards will report on their progress on the provincial priorities and how their action plans have improved student outcomes.
Contact Address:
315 Front St. W. 9th Floor
Toronto, ON M5V 2A4
Toronto, ON M5V 2A4
Effective Date:
July 28, 2023
Decision:
Approved