LEADERSHIP and GOVERNANCE IN ONTARIO EDUCATION May 1, 2018 Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education Student French- System Achievement Language Planning, Division Teaching, Research and Learning and Innovation Early Years & Achievement Division Child Care Division Division Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris Education Indigenous Labour & Capital & Education and Business Finance Student Support Well-Being Support & Field Services Division Division Division Division Corporate Management and Education Equity Services Division Secretariat
ONTARIO* 2.0 million students 27% of students born outside Canada 72 district school boards (12 French-language) 10 school authorities – 4 isolate boards, 6 hospital boards 700 school trustees including 22 First Nation Trustees and 126 student trustees 4,000 elementary schools 900 secondary schools 2,000 early childhood educators 126,000 teachers 7,600 Principals and Vice-Principals 72 Directors of Education, 400 Supervisory Officers *approximate numbers
School Boards… • Deliver publicly funded education • Operate within a legal context set out largely in the Education Act • Have the power to do only what is authorized by legislation • Are corporations legally distinct from the board of trustees
Four School Systems English Public French Public 31 district school boards 4 district school boards 10 school authorities Ontario ’s English Catholic French Catholic publicly-funded 29 district school boards 8 district school boards education system 6
Fulfilling the purpose of education “ The purpose of education is to provide students with the opportunity to realize their potential and develop into highly skilled, knowledgeable, caring citizens who contribute to their society.” Preamble to Education Act 8
Excellence Well-Being All Learners Public Equity Confidence Ontario’s Renewed Vision for Education 9 9
Ontario School Board Governance Framework Student Board of Trustees Trustee(s) Director of Education Supervisory Supervisory Supervisory Officer Officer Officer Principal Principal Principal Principal Principal Principal 10
Elected Trustees • 3 – 22 elected trustees in each board • Elections every four years • School trustees elect a chair each year in December as well as vice-chair and committee chairs
First Nations Trustees • Elected by band council(s) on boards with an education services agreement for the education of First Nations students living on reserve • Appointed to the board and deemed “elected trustees” with same rights and responsibilities of the position • Promote and advocate on behalf of First Nations issues through trustee association First Nation/Indigenous advisory councils 12
Student Trustees • 1 – 3 student trustees in each board • Elected annually for a one year term from August 1 - July 31 • No binding vote but otherwise have virtually same rights as elected trustees. 13
Duties of the Board Set the Vision Establish Multi-Year Develop Goals and Strategic Monitor Policy Plan Progress Allocate Resources and Assure Accountability 14
School Board Multi-Year Strategic Plan
Duties of Individual Trustees (Education Act s. 218.1) • Board as a whole has authority • Board members (“trustees”) do not have individual power or authority • Decision are made “by resolution” -- in other words, they vote • Trustees consult with their communities and bring their concerns and interests to the board table, but as a whole board, they must act in the best interests of all the students of the board 16
Chair of the Board (Education Act s. 218.4) • Trustees elect the board chair each year • Presides over board meetings • With the director of education, establishes board meeting agendas • Ensures board members and student trustees have information they need to participate fully • Maintains board’s focus on multi-year plan • Is the spokesperson for the board 17
Director of Education (Education Act s. 283) • The “CEO” • Hired by the board of trustees • Reports directly to the board of trustees • Manages the day-to-day operations of the school board • Implements, monitors and reviews the multi-year plan with the board 18
Ministry vs. Board Decision-Making Minister School Boards • • allocates funds to school boards in administer the funding they receive a fair manner using the education from the province for their schools, funding model including the building and maintaining of schools • develops curriculum • prepare an annual budget • sets policies and guidelines for • school trustees, directors of determine the number, size and education, principals and other location of schools school board officials • establish a school council at each • sets requirements for student school diplomas and certificates • hire teachers and other staff • prepares lists of approved learning • enforce the student attendance materials provisions of the Education Act • ensure schools abide by the Education Act and its regulations
Board Decision-Making cont.. • Boards have Advisory Committees that support board decision making in strategic areas of interest for the board. Typically, the membership of committees includes trustees and community members. • Mandatory Advisory Committees are the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), the Audit Committee and the Supervised Alternative Learning Committee (SALC). • Most boards also have an Indigenous Education Advisory Council (IEAC) whose role is to to advise the Board on matters relating to the education of First Nations, Metis and Inuit students.
Governance Partners L’association franco -ontarienne des conseils scolaires The Ontario Public School Boards Association catholiques 31 district school boards, 4 school authorities, 6 hospital boards 8 district school boards The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ The Ontario Student Trustee Association/l ’association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l’Ontario Association 29 district school boards Representing English-language student trustees Association des conseils scolaires des écoles Regroupement des élèves conseillers francophones publiques de l'Ontario de l'Ontario 4 district school boards Representing French-language student trustees 21
Governance Supports • Ministry and trustee associations, Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE), and Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) work closely to support trustees and directors in their governance roles. Inclusive Governance Training for Trustees 22
Governance Supports • The Leadership Collaboration and Governance Branch works with the school board associations to build trustees’ understanding of and capacity to advance the process of reconciliation with Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. – Annual professional learning events for trustees aim to deepen understanding about treaty relationships and residential schools – A newly released trustee learning module about truth and reconciliation in Ontario schools – Resources for trustees include information aimed at improving understanding of Indigenous student achievement and well-being and increasing all knowledge and awareness of First Nation, Métis and Inuit histories, cultures and perspectives
Election Resources and Supports • Increase public awareness and encourage public participation in school board elections o Guide to becoming a school trustee for candidates and the community o Guide to running an all- candidates’ meeting o Public awareness campaign through newspaper ads, promotional posters and social media o Elections website where the public can access information about their trustee candidates 24
Student Voice SpeakUp Projects: Close to 1,200 grants of up to $1,000 awarded annually to support student-led projects. SpeakUp in a Box: “ Do-it- yourself” forum kit helps students to lead discussion in their schools about what can help students become more engaged in learning and school. Students As Researchers (StAR): Training for student-teacher teams in collaborative inquiry research to develop a research question, conduct the research and submit a report. 25
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2017 Governance Engagement Following an engagement period with the education sector in 2017, a number of regulatory changes were made: 1. Student Trustees • The number of student trustees in each board would be increased to a minimum of two; and • Boards would be given the flexibility of setting a one or two-year term for student trustees. • These changes would come into effect for the student trustee term of office beginning in 2020.
2017 Governance Engagement 2. Trustee Honoraria (effective December 2018) • Honoraria for trustees would be increased by $400; and • Honoraria would be provided to hospital board and Centre Jules-Léger trustees. 3. Code of Conduct • Boards would be required to have a publicly available trustee code of conduct, and review the code on a regular basis 4. Electronic Meetings • Board and committee chairs will be permitted to participate electronically at board meetings, under certain conditions
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