Ontario seeks to gain more control over school boards in student achievement, teacher education

Ontario's education minister is proposing to establish "provincial priorities" on student achievement for school boards, strengthen training for trustees and board officials, and use surplus school board properties for housing.

The education bill tabled Monday, announced by Stephen Lecce, is an "overhaul" designed to lift education standards and strengthen "back to basics" learning in reading, writing and math, which will lead to a more effective education system, he says.

The Ford government says it is investing an additional $690 million — a 2.7 per cent increase — into school boards through Grants For Student Needs.

Lecce says the new bill will "change the culture and challenge school boards.

"I want school boards to be more functioning, more professional bodies," Lecce said at a news conference Monday.

"There are too many examples in Ontario … where they're not at the standards when it comes to governance."

The actual priorities for school boards will be set out by the government in regulations after the legislation passes, but officials say they will focus on student achievement in key areas such as reading, writing and math.

The bill also seeks to "modernize" teacher education, make disciplinary processes more efficient, and foster greater parent involvement.

WATCH | CBC reporter Mike Crawley asks Lecce how bill will change current system:

Lecce says Ontario has a world-class education system, but some schools have long been underperforming, and these changes will improve fundamental skills, as well as how school boards are run and how accountable they are.

"Boards will be required to develop and publicly post a board improvement plan that will reflect the priorities on student achievement and obviously, that accountability is really critical to making sure that boards, directors and trustees take seriously this requirements to improve on the fundamental skills, get back to the basics," he said in an interview ahead of tabling the bill.

"We can improve outcomes if we focus our time in the classroom on skills development, and we can help our young people succeed by getting better paying jobs and that's what we're doing. It's what this bill exists to do."

NDP education critic Chandra Pasma says the funding announced by the province falls "significantly below" the rate of inflation.

"It is more smoke and mirrors from a minister who will do literally anything but take responsibility for his own underfunding of education and the impact that's having on kids," Pasma said Monday.