More guidance counsellors for grades 7 and 8

Minister of Education announces changes to the funding formula

The Minister of Education has announced that school boards will receive increases to funding for guidance counsellors for students in grades 7 and 8. People for Education has been calling for a change to the funding formula for guidance for a number of years and has recommended that guidance counsellors for students in grades 7 and 8 be funded at the same rate as they are in high school – which is one counsellor for every 384 students. Today, the Minister announced the province will be making that change.

According to the Ministry of Education, this will mean at least 450 more guidance counsellors in schools with grades 7 and 8.

To read the full article from People For Education, click here.

News Release

New Schools and Child Care Spaces Coming to Communities Across Ontario

January 15, 2018

Province Investing in Additions, Repairs and Upgrades at 79 Schools

Ontario is supporting families in communities across the province, with new schools, additions and renovations that will create better, modern learning environments and more licensed child care spaces.

Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, and Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, were joined by Laura Albanese, MPP for York South-Weston, at Dennis Avenue Community School in Toronto today to announce funding for 39 brand new schools and 40 major renovations and additions in communities across Ontario.

These projects will also include a total of 157 new child care rooms with more than 2,700 licensed child care spaces for children aged 0-4, helping more families access safe and affordable child care closer to home.

Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

QUOTES

“Ontario is committed to building learning environments that support student achievement and well-being. That’s why we continue to invest in new, renovated, and expanded schools so that every student can learn and grow in a space that enables them to reach their full potential.”
— Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education

“Schools are a natural fit for licensed child care spaces. They provide families with access to safe, high-quality care in a convenient setting, and offer young children the opportunity to transition into full-day kindergarten in a familiar environment. These new spaces will give our youngest learners a strong start in life, and make a real difference in the lives of many Ontario families.”
— Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care

“I’m thrilled Ontario is making an important investment for the future of York South-Weston. These high-quality school buildings will help provide local students with better learning environments, while supporting the needs of our growing community.”
— Laura Albanese, MPP for York South-Weston