An item from an Ontario-based general education organization.

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Education funding for 2021-22  Less than 1% increase to ongoing funding While the province has committed to some additional funding for the coming year to address COVID-related needs, there has been a less than 1% increase in permanent funding for schools boards through Grants for Students Needs (GSNs) and baseline Priorities and Partnerships Funding (PPF). (See People for Education’s analysis) In addition to basic ongoing funding, the Ministry of Education has committed $487.9 million to fund COVID-related needs for the coming year, but school boards are expected to budget now for only half that amount. The Ministry will confirm the remaining amount for the second half of the year in August if it is confirmed that it is needed based on vaccine distribution across the province and public health advice. The additional COVID-related funding is meant to cover the costs of things like staff, cleaning, special education and mental health initiatives, ventilation, reading assessments, and connectivity supports. However without a comprehensive plan in place to address the range of student needs, it is difficult to know whether the funding is sufficient. People for Education – along with most other education stakeholders – continues to call on the province to convene an Education Advisory Task Force to ensure that planning for the coming year(s) is based on the best evidence and advice possible. Read People for Education’s synposis of funding for 2021-22 Schools to remain closed despite consensus from scientists and educators People for Education compiled the advice the Premier received in response to his letter asking whether re-opening schools would be safe for students and staff. The consensus from scientists, doctors, school boards, principals, teachers, and others was that the province should re-open schools on a regional basis based on guidance from local medical officers of health, while maintaining the provincial reopening framework. On June 2, the Premier and the Minister of Education announced schools would remain closed until September. Response  from the Ontario Principals’ Council Statement from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association  Read the consensus advice New report outlines impact of school closures on students Ontario’s schools have been closed for 20 weeks since March of last year – more time than any province in Canada. In a paper developed for the Ontario COVD-19 Science Advisory Table, researchers have examined the impact these closures have had on students. They found that school closures have affected students’ achievement and attendance and their wellbeing, and that these impacts fell most heavily on vulnerable populations such as students with lower socioeconomic backgrounds, racialized children and youth, newcomers, and students with disabilities. Beyond the findings on the impact, the paper points to the need for an explicit education recovery strategy that is informed by data and measurement. It also highlights a significant challenge for the province: there are extensive data gaps and there has been a lack of ongoing consistent evaluation over the last year, both of which are needed for effective evaluation and recovery. Read the report Study calls for “reset and rethink” of early learning and childcare policy across Canada New data provides national comparisons The latest Early Childhood Education Report  from the Atkinson Centre at the University of Toronto, calls on the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to prioritize quality and equity in their early years’ plans. The report examines early learning and childcare programs across the country and compares everything from parent fees to staff levels of post-secondary training. According to economist, Craig Alexander, “the pandemic has made it exceedingly clear that accessible, affordable, inclusive, and high-quality educational child care is not a luxury—it’s an imperative. Now more than ever, Canada must make long-term, continuous investments to make certain every family has access to high-quality early childhood education.” Read the report Education updates A letter from Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table points to the need for resources to support the coming school year. It says, “Ontario should now start developing recovery plans to address the long-term mental health, health and educational problems arising from COVID-19-related school closures. This will require investments.” The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) has released a discussion paper –Transitioning from the COVID-19 School Experience – that outlines key issues to be addressed in the coming year(s).

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