School board trustees will remain - will be expected to pay some of their expenses out of pocket. New CAO position created

By Gazette Staff

April 13th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Director of Education role to disappear – replaced by a Chief Administrative Officer and a Chief Education Officer

The Ontario government introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, to strengthen school board oversight and accountability and ensure more consistent learning experiences for students to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. The proposed changes would move Ontario toward a more accountable, consistent and modern model of high-quality education that better serves students, families and educators across the province.

“Ontario’s education system must remain focused on its core responsibility: student success. In some school boards, that focus has been lost, and students are paying the price,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “Ontario’s teachers and education workers are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly every day to support students, often under challenging circumstances. They deserve stable, accountable leadership that supports their work and puts learning first. If further action is required to protect students and reinforce respect for the professionals who teach them, we will not hesitate to act.”

Despite Ontario’s record investments in education, too many boards are facing financial mismanagement, weak governance and decision making that prioritizes politics over student outcomes. Since 2025, eight school boards have been placed under provincial supervision and the recent Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results show that while there has been progress in reading, writing and math, there is still more work to be done.

Students to be put first

Ontario is taking decisive action to put an end to ongoing governance breakdowns and financial mismanagement in English public and English Catholic district school boards by proposing changes that would clearly define roles, strengthen accountability and close the gaps that have allowed failures in oversight. Through the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, the government is putting students first by proposing changes that would:

Strengthen governance and accountability

• Limit trustee discretionary expenses and honoraria, standardize the number of elected trustees to a maximum of 12, require trustees to pay out-of-pocket for certain external organization membership fees and improve oversight over school board subsidiaries and their use of public funds.
• Equip English-language district school boards with qualified leadership by establishing two new roles: the Director of Education would become known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who would be responsible for financial and operational oversight and required to have business qualifications; and a Chief Education Officer, who would be appointed by the CEO to focus on student achievement and required to hold pedagogical qualifications, including Ontario College of Teachers membership or equivalent.
• Strengthen school board budget oversight and accountability by requiring the CEO to lead budget development, while referring budget matters to the Minister for decision when trustees are unable to reach an agreement and ensuring that the termination of the CEO requires Minister approval to help prevent reprisals and dismissals while they are carrying out their responsibilities.
• Professionalize school board bargaining by designating the Council of Ontario Directors of Education as the central employer bargaining agency for English public and English Catholic boards to ensure collective bargaining is led by professional school board staff who have expertise in the board’s operational matters.
• Set clear expectations for school board communications to ensure communications on official channels are focused on important day-to-day functions.

Ensure more consistent learning experiences

Mandate the use of ministry-approved learning resources in classrooms across the province to support greater consistency in delivering the new curriculum while making it easier for teachers to access high-quality materials, ensuring students have an equal chance to succeed no matter where they live.

Prepare students for postsecondary pursuits by introducing mandatory written exams on official exam days in Grades 9-12 and providing greater clarity on how students’ final marks are calculated.

Encourage improved engagement in the classroom by requiring attendance and participation to be part of the final mark for students in Grades 9-12, with attendance worth 15 per cent for Grades 9-10 and 10 per cent for Grades 11-12.

This proposed legislation builds on the government’s work to strengthen school board oversight and accountability to help ensure they deliver high-quality education, with every dollar spent focused on preparing students with practical skills for good-paying, stable careers.