After placing eight school boards in Ontario under provincial supervision in 2025, the Province is introducing more changes to the way school boards are run in an attempt to “strengthen school board oversight and accountability and ensure more consistent learning experiences for students,” according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education on Monday.
Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra introduced a bill that reduces some of the powers currently held by school board trustees and aims to “put an end to ongoing governance breakdowns and financial mismanagement” with the introduction of two new roles: a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a Chief Education Officer.
The bill, called the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, proposes that the Director of Education will become knows as the CEO. They will be required to have business qualifications and will be responsible for financial and operational oversight.
While the CEO will lead budget development, the Minister of Education will have final say over budget matters when trustees cannot come to an agreement. The termination of the CEO will also require the Minister’s approval “to help prevent reprisals and dismissals while they are carrying out their responsibilities.”
The Chief Education Officer will be appointed by the CEO and will focus on student achievement. They will be required to have qualifications in education, including a membership to the Ontario College of Teachers or equivalent.
While the position of school board trustee will remain, the bill proposes to limit their honorariums and discretionary expenses. They will also need to pay for certain membership fees to external organizations out-of-pocket and improve their oversight over subsidiaries and their use of public funds. It also aims to cap the number of elected trustees at a maximum of 12.
The bill also proposes that the Council of Ontario Directors of Education be made the central employer bargaining agency for English public and Catholic boards “to ensure collective bargaining is led by professional school board staff who have expertise in the board’s operational matters.”
Apart from governance of the boards, the bill is also introducing changes that will affect students and more directly, including mandating the use of ministry-approved learning resources in classrooms across the province.
If the bill passes, students in Grades 9-12 will have mandatory written exams on official exam days and educators are required to provide more clarity on how final marks are calculated.
In addition, attendance and participation in class will be made part of the final mark for students in Grades 9-12. Attendance will be with 15 per cent for those in Grades 9-10, and 10 per cent for Grades 11-12
The Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, also includes the proposed changes to teacher training programs announced on Friday, condensing them from four semesters over two years down to three semesters in a single year.