New Law Tightens Control Over Schools

Summary#

• Bill 101 changes many Ontario education and child care laws. It gives the Minister of Education more control over school boards, student assessment, learning materials, building projects, and collective bargaining.

• It also winds down the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) and gives the province more say over teacher education programs.

• Key changes:

  • Lets parents request an Ontario Education Number (OEN) for children in licensed child care; expands ministry support to child care operators.
  • Allows the Minister to set policies for student assessment, board expenses, use of textbooks and digital materials, and boards’ public communications.
  • Ends the requirement for school climate surveys.
  • Requires Minister approval for school land purchases and major building work; allows the Minister to step in and manage building projects if boards don’t follow rules.
  • Requires Minister approval to dismiss a director of education; in English-language boards the director is the chief executive officer and must appoint a chief education officer.
  • Replaces school board trustees’ associations as the employer bargaining agent with the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE); gives the Catholic trustees’ group observer status and a way to flag denominational issues.
  • Moves French-language rights dispute roles from a commission to the Minister.
  • Starts the process to dissolve HEQCO and transfer its work and assets to the province.
  • Lets the Ontario College of Teachers set detailed rules for teacher education programs that override university senate decisions.

What it means for you#

• Families and students

  • You can ask for an OEN for your child in licensed child care. This may ease future school registration and tracking.
  • Expect more consistent student assessment rules across boards.
  • Textbooks now clearly include digital materials; boards must follow new rules on what materials are used in class.
  • School climate surveys will no longer be required, so you may receive fewer board-run surveys about school climate.
  • Board communications may change as new rules guide what officers, staff, and trustees say on behalf of the board.

• Child care providers

  • The Ministry may offer added supports to help you run programs.
  • You may handle OEN requests for enrolled children.

• Teachers and education workers

  • The province can set detailed standards for teacher education programs (length, content, practicum). These rules override university decisions.
  • Your board’s central bargaining will be led by CODE (directors of education), not trustees’ associations.
  • For English-language boards, local deals must be signed by the director of education; in Catholic English-language boards, trustees must also approve.

• School boards and trustees

  • You must follow new provincial policies on expenses, learning materials, public communications, and student assessment.
  • Trustee numbers must be between 5 and 12, as set by regulation.
  • You need Minister approval before buying land, expropriating, or doing certain building additions, alterations, improvements, or repairs, and you must follow any new approval and notice rules.
  • If you don’t follow building policies, the Minister can give directions or appoint someone to take over project management, and you may be required to pay related fees.
  • You may need Minister approval of your annual budget in set situations; conditions can be attached.
  • Dismissing your director of education requires prior written approval from the Minister.
  • In English-language boards, the director is the chief executive officer, is a non-voting board member, and must appoint a chief education officer (who meets set qualifications).
  • Some board resolutions may need confirmation by the chair, director, or another official to take effect (if regulations are made).
  • Creating or changing board-controlled entities may need Minister approval.

• French-language rights holders

  • Disputes about French-language education proposals go to the Minister, who may appoint mediators and issue orders if needed.

• Catholic school communities

  • The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association can observe central bargaining and flag items it believes could harm denominational rights. Those items may shift to local bargaining, or the Labour Board can rule on them. Separate boards could be required by regulation to pay fees to the association.

• Postsecondary institutions (faculties of education)

  • The Ontario College of Teachers can set accreditation rules that control program design, content, delivery, and practicum, even if they conflict with university senate decisions.

• Higher education sector

  • HEQCO will be wound up and dissolved on a date set by the government. Its assets and responsibilities will move to the province, and the Minister will issue a final annual report.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Central rules for student assessment and learning materials will raise standards and consistency across Ontario.
• Stronger oversight of board spending, communications, and building projects will protect public funds and keep projects on time and on budget.
• Earlier OEN assignment will smooth children’s move from child care to school.
• Making the director the chief executive officer and adding a chief education officer clarifies leadership and accountability.
• Moving employer bargaining to CODE (education leaders) will make talks more focused on classroom needs and operations.
• Replacing the French-language commission with a direct Minister-led process will speed up resolutions.
• Winding down HEQCO removes duplication and streamlines policy work on higher education quality.
• Letting the College of Teachers set clear teacher education standards will improve new teachers’ preparation.

Opponents' View#

• More Minister control reduces local board autonomy and could politicize decisions on assessment, classroom materials, and public communications.
• Ending school climate surveys may weaken transparency about student and staff well-being.
• Added approvals for land and building work may slow down school construction and repairs.
• Allowing the Minister to take over project management and limit court actions concentrates too much power and reduces local recourse.
• Making directors (unelected administrators) the face of employer bargaining through CODE sidelines elected trustees and community voices.
• Letting the College of Teachers’ rules override university senates may harm academic freedom and program innovation.
• Replacing the French-language commission with a Minister-run process could reduce independence in language rights disputes.
• Dissolving HEQCO may cut independent research and advice on higher education quality.