TORONTO – Improving the transparency and efficiency of school boards, ensuring that every single dollar spent in the education system is directed toward tangible results and the preparation of students for stable, well-paying careers.
This is, in essence, the objective of the “Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026,” the provincial government of Ontario’s proposed legislation aimed at strengthening oversight of school boards and their accountability, with the goal of ensuring a more consistent, modern, and results-oriented education system to better prepare students for the jobs of the future.
As announced, the bill was introduced today by Education Minister Paul Calandra, who stressed that the education system must return to focusing on student success, reversing a trend in recent years in which some school boards have made decisions influenced more by politics than by student outcomes. “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 Calandra. “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. Hence the decision to reform the system through this legislation, which will affect English-language public and Catholic school boards (the changes will not apply to French-language boards).
Here are the main measures provided for in the bill (further details are available here). First of all, limits are placed on trustee expenses and compensation (elected school trustees), reducing their honoraria to a maximum of $10,000 and standardizing their number to a maximum of twelve (the TDSB currently has over twenty trustees), while also strengthening oversight of the use of public funds: for example, these funds may no longer be used to pay external membership fees (trustees will have to pay them out of pocket).
The leadership structure is also being reorganized: the Director of Education becomes a CEO with financial and operational responsibilities and must have a business background, while a Chief Education Officer (CEDO) is created, focused on student outcomes and requiring pedagogical expertise. The budget will be led by the CEO, but the Minister will intervene if trustees fail to reach an agreement, and may also approve the removal of the CEO if necessary. School board communications will also be streamlined, focusing more on day-to-day school functions, and collective bargaining will be centralized under the Council of Ontario Directors of Education.
On the educational side, the use of Ministry-approved learning materials will be mandatory to ensure more consistent teaching, written exams will be introduced for Grades 9 to 12, and the calculation of final marks will be clarified. In addition, attendance and participation will become part of the final grade, weighted at 15% in Grades 9–10 and 10% in Grades 11–12.
In short: more central control, less local autonomy, and greater standardization of governance, teaching, and assessment.
In the pic above, the cover of the “Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026”
