Back to school: New education policies in Ontario and Alberta
With the new school year underway, changes announced by Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra to the province’s English-language school systems are now in effect and include mandatory written exams, and factor attendance and participation into high school students’ final grades. While Alberta students in Grades 4 and 5 will now be required to take standardized math and literacy tests.
Members of the media may directly contact the following experts:
Joel Westheimer (English only)
Full professor; Faculty of Education.
Professor Westheimer’s research covers provincial education policy, curriculum mandates, and the purpose of schooling.
“You can’t standardize your way to better schools. The growing reliance on standardized tests, compulsory exams and attendance grades reflects a troubling faith in measurement, when strong public education actually depends on well-supported teachers exercising professional judgment and schools cultivating curiosity, critical thinking and democratic citizenship. When you can’t measure the things you care about, you start to care about the things that you can measure. Mission creep for schooling all around.”
Sachin Maharaj (English only)
Assistant Professor; Educational Leadership, Policy and Program Evaluation; Faculty of Education.
Professor Maharaj's research focuses on student cellphone use in schools, the work of school districts and teacher unions, and the equity implications of school choice.
"The Ontario government has caused a lot of uncertainty heading into the new school year."