ONTARIO-The Ontario government has introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026,
“Ontario’s education system must remain focused on its core responsibility: student success. In some school boards, that focus has been lost, and students are paying the price,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “Ontario’s teachers and education workers are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly every day to support students, often under challenging circumstances. They deserve stable, accountable leadership that supports their work and puts learning first. If further action is required to protect students and reinforce respect for the professionals who teach them, we will not hesitate to act.”
Since 2025, eight school boards have been placed under provincial supervision and the recent Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results show that while there has been progress in reading, writing and math, there is still more work to be done according to the province.
Through the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, the government is proposing changes that they say would:
- Limit trustee discretionary expenses and honoraria, standardize the number of elected trustees to a maximum of 12, require trustees to pay out-of-pocket for certain external organization membership fees and improve oversight over school board subsidiaries and their use of public funds.
- Equip English-language district school boards with qualified leadership by establishing two new roles: the Director of Education would become known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who would be responsible for financial and operational oversight and required to have business qualifications; and a Chief Education Officer, who would be appointed by the CEO to focus on student achievement and required to hold pedagogical qualifications, including Ontario College of Teachers membership or equivalent.
- Strengthen school board budget oversight and accountability by requiring the CEO to lead budget development, while referring budget matters to the Minister for decision when trustees are unable to reach an agreement and ensuring that the termination of the CEO requires Minister approval to help prevent reprisals and dismissals while they are carrying out their responsibilities.
- Professionalize school board bargaining by designating the Council of Ontario Directors of Education as the central employer bargaining agency for English public and English Catholic boards to ensure collective bargaining is led by professional school board staff who have expertise in the board’s operational matters.
- Set clear expectations for school board communications to ensure communications on official channels are focused on important day-to-day functions.
Ensure more consistent learning experiences
- Mandate the use of ministry-approved learning resources in classrooms across the province to support greater consistency in delivering the new curriculum while making it easier for teachers to access high-quality materials, ensuring students have an equal chance to succeed no matter where they live.
- Prepare students for postsecondary pursuits by introducing mandatory written exams on official exam days in Grades 9-12 and providing greater clarity on how students’ final marks are calculated.
- Encourage improved engagement in the classroom by requiring attendance and participation to be part of the final mark for students in Grades 9-12, with attendance worth 15 per cent for Grades 9-10 and 10 per cent for Grades 11-12.
