The School System: Ontario s Ministry of Education

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Nelson Logan
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1 The School System: Ontario s Ministry of Education Objectives Provide an overview of the Ministry of Education of Ontario. Familiarize the parent with the various sectors of the ministry. Understand who does what at the provincial level. Facts The Minister of Education is accountable to the population of Ontario, not only to parents of children in the school system. The Minister is responsible for the excellence of school performance and the use of public funds dedicated to education. The Minister does not play a role in promoting education except to assure full financing to the system. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Education The Minister of Education has the final word with regards to the education of every pupil in the province. He or she must make sure that students across the province are receiving a high quality education. The Minister is therefore responsible for determining what the students are learning, for setting expectations of the programs and for providing suitable schools and qualified teachers. More specifically, the Minister of Education of Ontario must: State the vision of education in Ontario. Decide the orientation of this vision on a provincial scale, including the content of programs. Ensure an adequate and equitable funding for school boards; Represent the Ministry's interests at the Council of Ministers of Education of Canada. Collaborate in the development of education policies. Implement the statutes and regulations. Develop the curriculum (programs).

2 Set policies and guidelines for school trustees, directors of education, principals and other school board officials. Approve the textbooks and other learning materials used in schools. The Ministry of Education s Agencies, Boards and Commissions The Ministry for Education is responsible for the creation of a number of organizations that report directly to the ministry and must accomplish specific tasks, often determined by decrees or laws. Here is a short list of these groups: Curriculum Implementation Partnership s Ad Hoc Advisory Committee This committee meets regularly to review the progress of the curriculum implementation and to make recommendations on the tools and the resources for the teachers. The Provincial Parent Council Its mandate is to advise the Minister on increasing parental involvement in education. This committee replaces the Ontario Parent Council. Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) Is responsible for creating and implementing provincial tests in reading, writing and mathematics at specific times during the education of young students in Ontario. In fact, the EQAO is also responsible for making the results of these tests public, for making recommendations aimed at improving the pupils performance and, by the same fact, the provincial school system. The Language in Education Commission This Commission deals with issue raised by the Minister or by issues brought forward by groups defending the linguistic minority. The Commission s mandate is to find solutions related to issues of the language of the minority, French and English, and to draft recommendations for the Minister. Minister s Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE)

3 Constituted by decree, this council advises the Minister in all matters regarding education for children with learning disabilities and Special Education in general. Special Education Tribunals They provide a final avenue of appeal for parents who disagree with the recommendations of the IRPC or the school board about the placement of their children with learning disabilities. Ontario College of Teachers This body is responsible for professional teacher training, program implementation, inquiries and disciplinary sanctions. The College s mandate is broad and touches practically every part of the teaching profession in the province. TFO and TV Ontario Supports education in Ontario through high quality educational programming in English and in French, delivered via television and other technologies such as on-line learning offered by the Independent Learning Centre. The French language channel focuses on elementary and secondary learning. Structure of the Ministry of Education Key Divisions of the Ministry Strategic Planning and Elementary/Secondary Programs Division Policy and Programs Branch: responsible for the establishment of policies such as the policy governing special education programs or the school boards policy. Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch: responsible for the establishment of teaching and learning programs, the provincial report, and the establishment of the programs' standards and expectations. Secondary Education Project: responsible for the development of the new secondary system and its implementation.

4 School Boards Management Branch: takes care of every aspect concerning boards management, statistics, ministry policy implementation and boards verification. French-Language Education and Educational Operations Division French Language Education Policy and Programs Branch: this branch has the most impact on programs in French language schools. This branch works closely with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch, but is responsible for establishing the vision of French language education. In this branch, policies and programs are developed to meet the needs of francophone students. The branch also handles the implementation of programs, prepares and establishes the training for teachers, and develops course outlines. Provincial Schools Branch Handles provincial schools such as the Centre Jules Léger for pupils with learning disabilities, specialized schools for deaf pupils and the provincial school for the blind. Independent Learning Centre. Field Services Branch. District Offices Six district offices represent the Ministry of Education in every region in Ontario. The offices ensure the implementation of policies in school boards and maintain a liaison between school boards and the Ministry. They inform the communities, answer people s questions and preoccupations, and interpret policies for school boards. In each district office, education agents are experts in various fields that share cases. So, if a question regarding special education is asked, we can directly communicate with an education agent who is expert in this field. Toronto and Area Regional Office Field Services Branch, Ministry of Education Suite 1610, 3300 Bloor Street West Clarica Centre - Centre Tower

5 Etobicoke Ontario M8X 2X3 Telephone : (416) Toll Free: London District Office York Street London Ontario N6A 5P9 Telephone: (519) Toll free: 1 (800) Fax: (519) Ottawa District Office Merivale Road Nepean Ontario K2G 4B5 Telephone: (613) Toll free: 1 (800) Fax: (613) Barrie District Office 420 Rose Street, 2nd floor General Inquiry: Toll Free: Fax: General Inquiry: Toll Free: North Bay - Sudbury District Office Suite Larch St

6 Sudbury ON P3E5P9 Fax: General Inquiry: Toll Free: Fax: Thunder Bay District Office James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 6S9 Telephone: (807) Toll free: 1 (800) Fax: (807) Reference Ministry of Education 900 Bay Street, Mowat Block Toronto Ontario M7A 1L2 Telephone: (416) Toll Free: 1 (800) Fax: (416) info@edu.gov.on.ca Internet: The Ministry of Education s website contains tons of information on every issue regarding elementary and secondary education in Ontario and every publication from the ministry, including the master programs of all levels. If you have questions or comments regarding the subject in this module, simply send an to Parents partenaires en education at info@reseauppe.ca

Financing Ontario s Catholic School Boards

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