International Day of Education 2024

An item from a general education organization in Ontario.

View this email in your browser

Share Tweet Forward The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 24th as International Day of Education, to recognize education’s key role in ensuring global peace and sustainable development. The sixth International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24 January 2024 under the theme “learning for lasting peace”. More information on Education Day Resources for social media Join the first ever global Big Education Conversation relay On Wednesday, January 24th, the Learning Planet, Big Change UK, People for Education, and Remake Learning are hosting the first ever Global Big Education Conversation Relay, with conversations happening across time zones and around the globe. Over 4 hours across the International Day of Education, the global community will come together to answer one big question – What do you believe is the purpose of education?  At 2 pm EST, join participants from the US, the UK, Peru, India, and Columbia in our Big Education Conversation. Register here to have your say Read Annie Kidder’s Op-Ed in The Future Economy Canada is at an inflection point and our economic and social futures depend on the next steps we take. It may sound too simple to believe, but there are potential solutions to our social, economic, and sustainability issues in our boring old public education system. Read more Why young people need a voice at the table Canada’s public education system is not keeping pace with rapid economic, social, and technological transformation. We need the inventive, fresh, and bold voices of young people to disrupt outdated systems and rethink the role of education in our society. People for Education’s Pan-Canadian Youth Network brings together young people from across Canada who have a diverse range of life experiences, education, and interests. The Network provides a platform to amplify youth voices and innovative perspectives by integrating their feedback into PFE’s work. Our goal is ensuring that young people have a real say in catalyzing change in public education. Learn more and meet the network Education in the news  Ontario Principals’ Council reports strain caused by staff shortages. Principals report that most schools have as many or more staff shortages this year, than they had a year ago and that the shortages are highest for educational assistants. In some cases, shortages lead to classes being canceled or being supervised by unqualified adults or volunteers. Ontario announces plan to expand its “back to basics” requirements into kindergarten. The new plan would add things like phonics and specific vocabulary expectations. Public education—when it is functioning at its best—is the path to success for Canada’s children and young people, and for our future as a country. You can support our work by donating now using the form below or clicking here. Our donors fuel the work we do. Learn more about them here.  Donate now

Follow us for more regular updates on education policy and research Facebook @PeopleforEd @AnnieKidder People for Education Copyright © 2024 People for Education, All rights reserved.

Here’s what is happening in education across Canada

Note the item about the funding formula review from a Canadian-based general education organization.

View this email in your browser

Share Tweet Forward Dear public education supporter, There is a lot going on in education across the country and here at People for Education. We’ve been talking to innovators in BC, Saskatchewan, and Portugal about the transformational work they’re engaged in on the ground: an amazing high school, a transformed first year engineering program, and a groundbreaking program where students get to vote on part of their schools’ budgets. More on all of these coming soon! We’re also getting ready to release our next report on de-streaming; we’ve got some great new videos on our website; and next week we’re holding the first meetings of our Pan-Canadian Youth Network working groups! In the big picture, Ontario has launched consultations on its planned new apprenticeship program and on education funding; Saskatchewan has introduced a so-called Parents’ Bill of Rights which will use the notwithstanding clause to get around the Bill’s infringement of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and there’s a new report on Pan-Canadian education indicators from Statistics Canada that provides data on everything from early childhood education to post-secondary graduation rates. Lots more to come! Annie Kidder What ever happened to schools as community hubs? Despite the years of advocacy and the evidence that school-community connections make a difference to the quality and degree of student outcomes and well-being, there is still little funding to ensure the staff support necessary to build and maintain strong connections between schools and their communities.   Read Annie Kidder’s article Ontario consulting on proposed apprenticeship plan Ontario’s Ministry of Education has launched consultations on its plan to allow students to enter apprenticeships full time starting in grade 11. The consultations focus on two possible models, both of which involve full-time apprenticeships for students who are at least 16 years old and have at least 16 high school credits. In one model students remain students of their boards; in the other, students leave school completely. The Ministry is not consulting on existing programs such as Specialist High Skills Majors, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program or Dual Credit Apprenticeship training. Read the consultation guide.  Read People for Education’s analysis and recommendations.  The deadline for feedback is 5:00pm on November 24, 2023. Use this link to provide feedback or send comments by email to skillsdevelopmentandapprenticeshipbranch@ontario.ca Education funding in Ontario Funding for education in Ontario is usually announced in the spring, but the planning starts every fall. The province has launched consultations on education funding for 2024-25, and the deadline for feedback is October 27, 2023. Among other things, this year’s consultations are focused on “modernizing” special education funding, enhancing transparency on school boards’ use of provincial funding, and strengthening accountability for boards’ progress in implementing the province’s back to basics agenda. Read the consultation guide  This year’s consultations are open until October 27, 2023. Submissions can be made to: EDULABFINANCE@ontario.ca. The education promise Public education in Canada is facing 4 key challenges: It is failing to evolve to keep pace with the economic, social, and technological transformation around us. Education systems are compartmentalized from one another with little shareable data to help understand differences, promote cross-jurisdictional learning or develop pan-Canadian strategies to support change. Education is siloed from other sectors and missing opportunities to provide early solutions to the country’s social, environmental, and economic needs. Students and young people are missing from most dialogue about education or educational change. As part of our mission to be a catalytic force for change in public education, People for Education is convening intergenerational, intersectoral champions with diverse voices and perspectives to hold crucial conversations about the purpose, problems, and future of public education in Canada. Our first intergenerational event was an opportunity to connect global issues to the role that public education could play if it were functioning at its full potential. It also provided a space to collaborate and reimagine public education that works for every child, is centered around youth voices, is not siloed from other sectors, and is able to provide early solutions to social, environmental, and economic needs. More highlights Pan-Canadian Youth Network More recommended reading Young people hold the key to creating a better future | World Economic Forum   Potential or essential? Youth as partners in education research | Brookings  Why youth leadership is central to efforts to prevent school-related gender-based violence | UNESCO  How does education affect poverty? It can help end it | Concern US    National Award for Teaching Excellence in Physical and Health Education – Nominations are now open | PHE Canada   Public education—when it is functioning at its best—is the path to success for Canada’s children and young people, and for our future as a country. You can support our work by donating now using the form below or clicking here. Our donors fuel the work we do. Learn more about them here.  Donate now

Follow us for more regular updates on education policy and research Facebook @PeopleforEd @AnnieKidder People for Education Copyright © 2023 People for Education, All rights reserved.

 

JUST RELEASED! A report on mental health of students and staff

An item from a general education organization in Ontario.  On the positive side, at least they don’t blame remote or online learning for the decline in mental health.

View this email in your browser

Share Tweet Forward Dear People for Education supporter, Today, we’re releasing new findings on student mental health and well-being from our 2022-23 Annual Ontario School Survey. These findings align with so many reports that have recently come out and are all saying the same thing: “The kids are not alright.” In the survey responses, principals shared their worries about the assumption that things are now “back to normal” in schools. They say nothing could be further from the truth. They are seeing more behavioural issues, an increased number of students needing mental health support, and kids who have simply not bounced back from the pandemic. The experts tell us that most mental health disorders emerge during childhood and adolescence. While we can’t expect schools to treat students struggling with mental illness, we could be doing much more to support schools to help promote students’ mental health. For once, this isn’t simply an issue of funding; what’s needed is more coherent policy and more coordination of services. An essential first step will be convening a Health and Education Task Force to bring together the people with the experience and the expertise necessary to come up with long-term solutions. Annie  New data from People for Education reveals that schools are under strain More than 1,000 principals from all of Ontario’s 72 school boards participated in the 2022-23 Annual Ontario School Survey. On February 27th, we released findings from the survey focused on student mental health and well-being. Among the findings from the 2022-23 Annual Ontario School Survey: 95% of schools report needing support for students’ mental health and well-being. Only 9% of schools report they have regularly scheduled access to an in-person mental health/addiction specialist or nurse, and 46% of schools report no access at all. 28% of elementary and secondary schools report they have no access to a psychologist, either virtually or in-person; nearly double the percentage with no access in 2011. Read More More about youth mental health in the news New US CDC report calls for investment in schools as a vital lifeline to help youth struggling with mental health challenges.  The report finds that experiences of violence, suicidal thought and behaviours have increased especially among teen girls. Nearly 1 in 3 young girls surveyed reports having considered attempting suicide—60% more than a decade ago. CAMH to create groundbreaking youth mental health platform. The Canadian Youth Mental Health Insight Platform will support experts, researchers, and users to share and learn from mental health data to better prevent, diagnose and treat youth mental illness in Canada. The 2023 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey is now being conducted in schools across Ontario to track drug, mental health and well-being trends. The findings will be used by education and health professionals to inform the implementation of future programs and policies in support of the health and well-being of youth. Where should the new healthcare money go? Experts point to Canada’s most pressing problems and provide solutions. Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath host annual gala On May 25, the stars will come out to support public education, the arts in schools, and People for Education. Telling Tales Out of School is People for Education’s annual fundraising gala, finally back in-person after a three year “pandemic pause.” Mark your calendars now, and we’ll update you with more information soon.

Follow us for more regular updates on education policy and research Facebook @PeopleforEd @AnnieKidder People for Education Copyright © 2023 People for Education, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website, at an event, or when making a donation.Our mailing address is: People for Education 728A St. Clair Ave. West 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B3 Canada

JUST RELEASED! A progress report on anti-racism policy across Canada

An item from a general education organization in Ontario.

View this email in your browser

Share Tweet Forward

Dear public education supporter, I hope you all had a break over the holidays and that you feel ready to face the world and the new year! Amazingly, this year will mark People for Education’s 26th year of advocating, researching, and connecting the dots between strong public education and resilient societies! The work has changed over the years, but at its core it’s still all about the fact that it is possible to build better futures for all of us, and for the country, through better public education. Maybe if we think of this year in terms of resolutions (beyond a bit less candy and a bit more exercise), we could all resolve to speak out more and to resist turning a blind eye to things like bad policy, creeping privatization, decisions based on politics instead of evidence, and a lack of willingness to invest for long-term sustainability, equity, and prosperity. We’re releasing a new report this week that takes a look at anti-racism strategies across the country, with a focus on Ontario. Among the findings, is that principals continue to struggle to implement vital new strategies with insufficient staff and resources, and while continuing to deal with the fall-out from the pandemic. There also appears to be some backsliding in Ontario education on what could have been effective anti-racism and equity policies. (Two years, ago the province announced all boards would have Equity and Improvement Plans – but all mention of them seems to have disappeared from the Ministry of Education website.) People for Education is going to continue to work hard this year, at all levels. Today, we sent in a report to the UN Rapporteur on Canada’s progress (or lack thereof) on the Right to Education, this month we’re going to the Cannexus conference to talk about the need for new cross-sector, intergenerational dialogue focused on reimagining public education, and next month we’ll release a new report based on responses from more than 1,000 principals to the 2022-23 Annual Ontario School Survey. I hope you all continue to stick with us on this vital journey. Annie  Inconsistent and under-resourced – the state of anti-racism strategies across Canada People for Education released a new report today – A progress report on anti-racism policy across Canada. It is based on a pan-Canadian scan of anti-racism policy and legislation; data from the 2021-22 Annual Ontario School Survey; and findings from a scan of the websites of Ontario’s 72 publicly funded school boards. Among the findings for Ontario: 64% of principals reported their school boards collected race-based and/or demographic student data 94% of principals reported their school provided professional development on anti-racism and equity, but only 37% reported partnering with community-based organizations in their anti-racism and equity work While 73% of principals reported having a focus on anti-racism in their School Improvement Plans, and 74% of school board websites mention racism in their equity policies, only 28% of school boards published anti-racism strategies or approaches online. Read the synopsis Read the report Key PFE highlights from the past year The 2021-22 Annual Ontario School Survey data handbook – All the results from the 2021-22 Annual Ontario School Survey (AOSS) are available in one easy-to-use Data Handbook. The findings include data on child care in schools, principal demographics, Indigenous education, and special education staffing. Other findings from the 2021-2022 AOSS include Timing is everything: The implementation of de-streaming in Ontario’s publicly funded schools and “A perfect storm of stress” Ontario’s publicly funded schools in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic. People for Education’s Right to Quality Education framework – People for Education’s Right to Quality Education framework could provide a first step in ensuring that all students, and not just some, have access to the quality education they need to thrive – now and into the future. Download our framework here. Learn more about the framework and its development here. Education in the news Media Literacy Canada ranks 7th out of 47 countries on media literacy, according to the Open Society Institute Media Literacy Index. The index measures things like media freedom, levels of education, trust in society and the usage of new tools of e-tools.  Finland ranks #1, which could in part be due to Finland’s media literacy policy which mandates that media literacy is part of the core curriculum starting in Kindergarten. Child care Ontario is missing at least 8,500 registered early childhood educators that will be needed to support child care expansion. Government documents obtained by Canadian Press list problems with recruitment including “uncompetitive wages, benefits, vacation/sick time; limited opportunities for professional learning; minimal career progression options…” Childcare advocates point to the low “floor” for wages ($18 per hour) as a key barrier in hiring and retaining early childhood educators. More from our network Maytree’s fourth Five Good Ideas session of the season is coming up!   You’re invited to attend “Five Good Ideas for values-driven digital transformation,” with Amy Sample Ward, CEO of NTEN, and Katie Gibson, Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships, CIO Strategy Council. In this session, Amy and Katie will offer tangible advice on how we can better incorporate our missions and values in our engagement with technology. Wednesday, January 25, at 1:00 PM EST. Register here Community Based Research Canada’s call for proposals   CBRCanada is thrilled to be able to gather community and campus together at the 8th in person C2UExpo hosted at Lakehead University. Please respond to this call for proposals by January 23, 2023 and consider coming to Thunder Bay in June. C2UExpo is Canada’s leading conference on community-based research (CBR) and community-campus engagement. Last date to apply is January 23. Find more details and apply here. Public education—when it is functioning at its best—is the path to success for Canada’s children and young people, and for our future as a country. You can support our work by donating now using the form below or clicking here. Our donors fuel the work we do. Learn more about them here.  Donate Now

Follow us for more regular updates on education policy and research Facebook @PeopleforEd @AnnieKidder People for Education Copyright © 2023 People for Education, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website, at an event, or when making a donation. Our mailing address is: People for Education 728A St. Clair Ave. West 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B3 Canada

Reimagining public education in Canada

An item from a general education organization in Ontario.

View this email in your browser

Share Tweet Forward

Dear public education supporter, 2022 is nearly over! What’s that saying about “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”? That’s how I feel about 2022…and 2021…and maybe 2020. I wake up every morning and read the newspaper (yes, I still read an actual newspaper), and I am struck by both the challenges and the incredible pace of transformation facing the world. I’m also struck by what’s missing in our public dialogue about the future. We talk about the future of work, the future of democracy, the future of healthcare, the future of the climate, but we continually leave an essential piece out of these conversations. Despite all that has gone on in education over the last few years, we are not talking about the future of public education – something that could play a critical role in helping us to overcome many of the challenges society faces today, from poverty, to climate change, to polarization. Today is International Human Rights Day, and the right to education is a fundamental human right that unlocks access to all our other human rights. (Check out our new Right to Education page!) Public education is critical in building the civil, democratic, sustainable, innovative, productive, equitable, Canada that we all need and want. But Canada’s public education system – in its current form – is not able to fulfil its foundational role. It doesn’t serve every student equally. It hasn’t kept pace with the ever-evolving world around us. It’s content with being “good” when it could be “great”. So, what do we do about this?   We think it’s time to get education out of its box. In the new year, we’re launching The Big Assignment. It’s an assignment for all of us – no matter what generation or sector – to meet, to debate and challenge, and put education at the centre of our conversations about Canada’s future.   I want to thank you all so much for your contributions on Giving Tuesday and throughout the year. Every donation is a huge help. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and that 2023 brings better things. Annie  A Change of (S)pace People for Education hosted its first intergenerational retreat on November 21st. It marked the beginning of a pan-Canadian dialogue to reimagine public education in Canada so that it can fulfill its foundational role for both individuals and the collective. The day brought together advocates, innovators, researchers, and leaders from across sectors, generations, and perspectives to explore the possibilities of public education as the solution to many of the challenges society faces today. One of the things that made this day stand out was that it wasn’t about answers, but instead focused on the need to include everyone in this vital dialogue, to collaborate, to listen and to share. Some key things that we discussed were: How can we use the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to demonstrate the links between public education and a range of social and economic goals? What qualities and attributes make an ideal global citizen? What needs to change in the current education system to ensure it caters to every student? What could a reimagined public education system look like in Canada? People for Education’s Right to Education Framework In Canada, everyone has a right to education, but that right is currently neither adequately defined, nor equitably accessible. Persistent gaps and barriers in public education mean that not every child or student has equitable access to the quality education that will provide them the chance for long-term success in school and life. People for Education knows that a strong, equitable public education system is a key factor in a healthy, democratic, successful society, and stronger public education could help us solve many of our biggest issues. People for Education’s Right to Education Framework is the first step in this direction. The Right to Education framework has two key purposes: To define a quality education in Canada by articulating clear goals and outcomes. To provide sample indicators that can be developed, measured, and publicly reported by schools, boards, policymakers, and education systems.                Learn more about the framework and its development  Read People for Education’s analysis of education rights in Canada and Europe 30 years with insufficient progress on child well-being – UN report finds Canada behind on implementing Convention on the Rights of the Child European Child Guarantee provides a model for Canada Reframing quality public education as a fundamental human right PFE’s team has grown Please join us in welcoming Maryam Ahmad, our new Policy and Research Fellow, to the People for Education team. Maryam is a non-profit professional who is passionate about women’s and children’s rights, racialized communities, and Canadian-Muslim affairs. She completed her studies at York University and the University of Waterloo, where she obtained her Master’s degree. Her academic background in political science and global governance has very much shaped the way she views the world. By using her personal and professional experiences, Maryam hopes to one day make an impactful change in society. Maryam lives in Niagara Falls with her husband and son. Public education—when it is functioning at its best—is the path to success for Canada’s children and young people, and for our future as a country. You can support our work by donating now using the form below or clicking here. Our donors fuel the work we do. Learn more about them here.  Donate Now

Follow us for more regular updates on education policy and research Facebook @PeopleforEd @AnnieKidder People for Education Copyright © 2022 People for Education, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website, at an event, or when making a donation. Our mailing address is: People for Education 728A St. Clair Ave. West 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B3 Canada