Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy
Bill 177, the Student Achievement and School Board Governance Act, 2009

On October 27, 2009, President Sam Hammond participated in the public hearings at the Ontario Legislature on Bill 177, the Student Achievement and School Governance Act, 2009.

The bill proposes a number of amendments to the Education Act primarily aimed at clarifying the role and responsibilities of school boards, trustees, board chairs, and directors of education. 

ETFO’s submission to the Bill 177 hearings outlines the federation’s concerns regarding the proposals to increase the government’s regulatory power over school boards.  Particularly, ETFO is concerned that a future “public interest regulation” linked to the bill will give the government authority to take over control of a school board if the government deems the board is failing to meet certain standards related to student achievement.

One positive aspect of the bill is that it deletes all reference of “co-instructional” activities from the Education Act. This means that, if the bill passes as written, teachers’ participation in extra-curricular activities will be henceforth treated as purely voluntary in nature and withdrawal of these activities will not be considered as strike action.

PDF: Brief on Bill 177, the Student Achievement and School Board Governance Act, 2009

RTF: Brief on Bill 177, the Student Achievement and School Board Governance Act, 2009-RTF