The OPSBA Board of Directors held a meeting on Sept. 22 and 23, 2017 in Toronto. A traditional territory acknowledgement was provided by Trustee Karen Sandy, the Indigenous Trustees’ Council’s Alternate Board of Director member. Michael Coteau, the Minister of...
Education Program and Policy
Human Rights Tribunal – service dogs not automatic right in schools
Miller Thomson LLP has posted an important update regarding service dogs in schools in its September 2017 Education Law Newsletter. The authors, Kennedy MacDonald and Nadya Tymochenko, write, "In a recent decision, J.F. v. Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the...
OPSBA’s 2016-17 Annual Report
OPSBA has released its 2016-17 Annual Report, highlighting our advocacy and work in the past year. Read it today to find out how we've advanced progress on our six strategic priorities since June 2016!
Ministry launches Rural Education Strategy consultation
On April 21, 2017, the Ministry of Education released details for their upcoming consultation on Ontario's Rural Education Strategy. Ten consultations will occur across the province beginning May 5 and ending May 26, 2017. The consultations will include...
TVO Resources for Educators
mPower Last year, TVO introduced mPower for Kindergarten to Grade 2. It is now available for Grades 3 to 6. mPower is a fun, innovative, online game-based resource that engages students in problem-solving and critical thinking through math. For Grades 7 to 12: Over...
Legislative Update
Bill 92, School Boards Collective Bargaining Amendment Act On March 23, the Ministry of Education issued the news release Ontario Strengthens Collective Bargaining in Education Sector after the bill received Third Reading in the House. The legislation was supported...
Ontario Middle Years Strategy Survey
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is leading the development of an Ontario Middle Years strategy that will seek to bridge existing policy and development frameworks for the early years and youth. The goal of the strategy is to support the well-being and...
Children’s vision and hearing health should be top of mind
The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) and the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) are urging all Ontario educators to ensure that every child in Ontario starting school is healthy and ready to learn. To reach their...
EQAO announces that next OSSLT will be on paper
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has announced that the next iteration of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in March 2017 will be administered in paper format only. Originally, the agency’s intention was to deliver the March...
Discussion Paper on EQAO and Large Scale Testing in Ontario
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is pleased to announce the release of its most recent Discussion Paper: EQAO and Large Scale Testing in Ontario. Guided by OPSBA’s 2013-2014 strategic priorities, which included a commitment to promote...
Legislative Update
Current and Future Legislation Bill 37, the Protecting Students Act Education Minister Mitzie Hunter re-introduced this legislation on October 5, 2016. It amends the Ontario College of Teachers Act by addressing the 49 recommendations adopted by College Council...
Provincial Education Event “Partners in Dialogue”
On November 9 and 10, 2016, The Ministry of Education hosted a two-day provincial education event called, "Partners in Dialogue." The event brought together education leaders and key stakeholders to engage in dialogues on a number of key priorities. Those attending...
Recap: OPSBA December 2016 Board of Directors Meeting
The OPSBA Board of Directors held a meeting on December 2 and 3, 2016. Alternate First Nations Director Karen Sandy brought a traditional territorial acknowledgement to open the meeting. Education policy and program issues that were discussed at the meeting are...
OPSBA’s Key Work for 2016-17
Our annual Key Work booklet (2016-17) is now available as a PDF download. OPSBA is an issue-driven organization and exists to provide for the service needs of its members whose role is to advocate for public education. Members expect emerging as well as current...
Legislative Update
Provincial By-Elections The House resumed on Monday, November 14, 2016 after a constituency week. Provincial By-elections were held November 17 for the ridings of Ottawa-Vanier and Niagara West-Glanbrook. Nathalie Des Rosiers, the Liberal party candidate won the...
Ontario Ombudsman releases 2015-16 Annual Report
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé released his office's 2015-16 Annual Report on Nov. 2, 2016. The Ombudsman received 22,118 cases in the 2015-16 fiscal year. The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) received 1,025 complaints, "making it once again the most complained about...
New learning tools now available for French as a Second Language students
A learning toolset designed for English language school boards to help Grades 1 to 12 students develop their listening skills is now available. À L'Écoute was developed by IDÉLLO, Groupe Média, in partnership with the Ministry of Education. À L'Écoute is based on...
OPSBA September 2016 Board of Directors Meeting
The OPSBA Board of Directors held a meeting on September 30 and October 1, 2016. Education policy issues that were discussed at the meeting are summarized below. Traditional Territory AcknowledgementFirst Nations Director Peter Garrow acknowledged that the meeting was...
Education Program and Policy
OPSBA Board of Directors Meeting – September 22 and 23, 2017
The OPSBA Board of Directors held a meeting on Sept. 22 and 23, 2017 in Toronto. A traditional territory acknowledgement was provided by Trustee Karen Sandy, the Indigenous Trustees’ Council’s Alternate Board of Director member. Michael Coteau, the Minister of...
Human Rights Tribunal – service dogs not automatic right in schools
Miller Thomson LLP has posted an important update regarding service dogs in schools in its September 2017 Education Law Newsletter. The authors, Kennedy MacDonald and Nadya Tymochenko, write, "In a recent decision, J.F. v. Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the...
OPSBA’s 2016-17 Annual Report
OPSBA has released its 2016-17 Annual Report, highlighting our advocacy and work in the past year. Read it today to find out how we've advanced progress on our six strategic priorities since June 2016!
Ministry launches Rural Education Strategy consultation
On April 21, 2017, the Ministry of Education released details for their upcoming consultation on Ontario's Rural Education Strategy. Ten consultations will occur across the province beginning May 5 and ending May 26, 2017. The consultations will include...
TVO Resources for Educators
mPower Last year, TVO introduced mPower for Kindergarten to Grade 2. It is now available for Grades 3 to 6. mPower is a fun, innovative, online game-based resource that engages students in problem-solving and critical thinking through math. For Grades 7 to 12: Over...
Legislative Update
Bill 92, School Boards Collective Bargaining Amendment Act On March 23, the Ministry of Education issued the news release Ontario Strengthens Collective Bargaining in Education Sector after the bill received Third Reading in the House. The legislation was supported...
Ontario Middle Years Strategy Survey
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is leading the development of an Ontario Middle Years strategy that will seek to bridge existing policy and development frameworks for the early years and youth. The goal of the strategy is to support the well-being and...
Children’s vision and hearing health should be top of mind
The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) and the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) are urging all Ontario educators to ensure that every child in Ontario starting school is healthy and ready to learn. To reach their...
EQAO announces that next OSSLT will be on paper
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has announced that the next iteration of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in March 2017 will be administered in paper format only. Originally, the agency’s intention was to deliver the March...
Discussion Paper on EQAO and Large Scale Testing in Ontario
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is pleased to announce the release of its most recent Discussion Paper: EQAO and Large Scale Testing in Ontario. Guided by OPSBA’s 2013-2014 strategic priorities, which included a commitment to promote...
Legislative Update
Current and Future Legislation Bill 37, the Protecting Students Act Education Minister Mitzie Hunter re-introduced this legislation on October 5, 2016. It amends the Ontario College of Teachers Act by addressing the 49 recommendations adopted by College Council...
Provincial Education Event “Partners in Dialogue”
On November 9 and 10, 2016, The Ministry of Education hosted a two-day provincial education event called, "Partners in Dialogue." The event brought together education leaders and key stakeholders to engage in dialogues on a number of key priorities. Those attending...
Recap: OPSBA December 2016 Board of Directors Meeting
The OPSBA Board of Directors held a meeting on December 2 and 3, 2016. Alternate First Nations Director Karen Sandy brought a traditional territorial acknowledgement to open the meeting. Education policy and program issues that were discussed at the meeting are...
OPSBA’s Key Work for 2016-17
Our annual Key Work booklet (2016-17) is now available as a PDF download. OPSBA is an issue-driven organization and exists to provide for the service needs of its members whose role is to advocate for public education. Members expect emerging as well as current...
Legislative Update
Provincial By-Elections The House resumed on Monday, November 14, 2016 after a constituency week. Provincial By-elections were held November 17 for the ridings of Ottawa-Vanier and Niagara West-Glanbrook. Nathalie Des Rosiers, the Liberal party candidate won the...
Ontario Ombudsman releases 2015-16 Annual Report
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé released his office's 2015-16 Annual Report on Nov. 2, 2016. The Ombudsman received 22,118 cases in the 2015-16 fiscal year. The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) received 1,025 complaints, "making it once again the most complained about...
New learning tools now available for French as a Second Language students
A learning toolset designed for English language school boards to help Grades 1 to 12 students develop their listening skills is now available. À L'Écoute was developed by IDÉLLO, Groupe Média, in partnership with the Ministry of Education. À L'Écoute is based on...
OPSBA September 2016 Board of Directors Meeting
The OPSBA Board of Directors held a meeting on September 30 and October 1, 2016. Education policy issues that were discussed at the meeting are summarized below. Traditional Territory AcknowledgementFirst Nations Director Peter Garrow acknowledged that the meeting was...