News

Ontario Supporting Students and Protecting Front-Line Teachers

NORTH BAY  —  Ontario’s Government for the People is protecting what matters most by creating a world class education system which will prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow.   The province will use a modernized approach to education reform to better utilize technology, give students the skills they need to succeed, protect front line teachers and ensure every dollar spent benefits students.

The Ministry of Education recently confirmed education funding allocations to the province’s school boards. Ontario will provide $24.66 billion in education funding to school boards in 2019–20, investing more in education for the coming school year than the previous government committed for 2018-19.

“We are putting student achievement at the centre of everything we do to make sure students leave school with the tools they need to be successful both inside and outside the classroom,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Education. “We continue to invest more money into our education system every single year and we will ensure every dollar helps deliver the results parents and students expect.”

A new Attrition Protection Allocation of $1.6 billion in the province’s education funding model will top-up funding for school boards to protect front-line teaching staff, which will prevent boards from having to lay off teachers impacted by proposed changes in class sizes and e-learning.

Ontario also announced the launch of the new Priority and Partnerships Fund (PPF), which will focus on providing students opportunities to expand their education through outcome-based programs with school boards and organizations.  The province is continuing to invest in school repair and maintenance and is increasing funding for special education, indigenous and French-language education.                      

Highlights of the additional investments and priorities in education for the 2019-2020 school year include:

·         Assistance to school boards to implement new curriculum, including an improved Career Studies course;

·         Opportunities and culturally-appropriate programs to support learning, and help foster a greater sense of community for students in Ontario’s French-Language Education system;

·         Providing Indigenous students with more opportunities, including help with transitions into higher education or work;

·         Improving math performance with the new four-year Math Strategy;

·         Mental health programming and supports students and families need to ensure school boards help make the critical connection between positive mental health and student success;

·         Assistance for students with special education needs, including pilot programs to improve supports for students with Autism as well as other developmental disorders;

·         Support for students as they transition out of high school – whether they choose to pursue apprenticeship, college, university, or work;

·         Improved internet access for Ontario’s students – including those in rural and northern communities;

·         $1.4 billion in the 2019-20 school year to repair and renew schools across Ontario, to help provide healthy, safe and accessible learning environments for students; and

·         Increased funding for student transportation to ensure school boards can continue to deliver safe and reliable services for those depending on them.

“We promised to improve education for students in Nipissing and across the province by modernizing our education system to ensure our children leave school with the tools they need to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “The province is building on its plan Education that Works for You, and introducing new measures that will help make sure Ontario students are leaders in education once again.”