July 14, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 23

WHAT'S INSIDE?

Ontario College of Teachers Looks at Changes to Certificates of Qualifications
Urban Aboriginal Education Project – July Meeting
Ministry of Education UPDATE
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Calendar of Events

Ontario College of Teachers Looks at Changes to Certificates of Qualifications

Currently there are seven kinds of certificates of qualifications that can be issued by the Ontario College of Teachers, including interim, limited and restricted certificates. The College is considering a recommendation to reduce the number of certificates to two: a regular Certificate of Qualification and a transitional certificate that would cover candidates acquiring qualifications through multi-session programs of professional education, e.g. teachers of technological education, Native language, or teachers in the French language school system.

The College is also considering eliminating the 194 days of teaching requirement as a condition of certification for candidates in multi-session programs and candidates who received their teacher education outside Ontario. A final area of review is the regulation that requires applicants who have completed teacher education outside Ontario to take a program of orientation to Ontario education.

In all cases, the goal is to simplify processes and to reduce barriers for candidates entering the profession to take up positions that are difficult to recruit for, or teachers who received their education outside Ontario.

A session with education stakeholders, including OPSBA, held at the College on July 11, 2008 provided advice on these areas of review. Input was generally in favour of the proposed changes.

For background information (PDF)

The College will also be pleased to receive input from the school board sector in writing. The deadline for written submissions is August 15, 2008. These can be sent to: Margaret Aubé, TQR Project Office, Ontario college of Teachers, 121 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON  M4W 3M5.

For more information: Susan Cook, Policy Associate, ext.103

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Urban Aboriginal Education Project – July Meeting

The Aboriginal Education Office of the Ministry of Education has initiated the development of pilot projects aimed at supporting success in school for urban-based Aboriginal students.  The projects will focus on reaching out to Aboriginal families, communities and other service delivery organizations. This initiative aligns with a key commitment of the province’s First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework:

“In collaboration with school boards, First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and organizations, develop innovative approaches to meet the needs of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students living in large urban centres.”

A Steering Committee with broad-ranging representation from First Nation and Métis organizations, from school boards and from post-secondary institutions oversees the Urban Aboriginal Education Initiative and has been meeting since February, 2008. The Steering Committee is chaired by the Director of the Aboriginal Education Office with co-chair support provided by Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, and Terry Ellwood, Director of Education, Lakehead DSB. The work of the Committee is guided by Elder Vernon Douglas and Senator Roland St. Germain.

At the Committee’s meeting on July 7, 2008, a presentation was given by StonePath Research Group, the organization that has been selected, in collaboration with the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE), to conduct research on successful urban Aboriginal education programs as well as complete a literature review in this area.

For information on the research plan (PDF)

Three school boards have been selected to undertake pilot projects.  They are Lakehead DSB, Simcoe County DSB and Toronto DSB. All three boards have formed sub-committees to oversee their projects locally and they each reported on progress to date.  Each board is at a different stage of development in finalizing their project outline; for funding purposes, Lakehead’s proposal was agreed to in principle, with additional information to be submitted; Simcoe County and Toronto were encouraged to complete their plans as soon as possible.

The next meeting of the Steering Committee is scheduled for September 16, 2008.

For more information: Susan Cook, Policy Associate, ext.103

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Calendar of EVENTS