Cap on board size, and making attendance part of final grades, components of new legislation
Posted April 13, 2026
The Ontario government has introduced sweeping legislation aimed at tightening oversight of school boards, standardizing governance and reshaping how students are evaluated in classrooms across the province.
Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, follows a series of provincial interventions, with eight boards placed under supervision since 2025 amid concerns over financial mismanagement and governance breakdowns.
Among the most notable measures is a cap of 12 elected trustees per board, along with tighter rules on trustee expenses and honoraria. Both school boards in Simcoe County are below that threshold with the public board served by 11 trustees, and the Catholic board with eight.
Trustees would also be required to personally cover certain external membership fees.
The province is also proposing a shift in executive leadership. Directors of education would be reclassified as chief executive officers, with responsibility for financial and operational oversight and a requirement for business qualifications.
A new chief education officer role would focus on student achievement and require credentials tied to teaching, including membership in the Ontario College of Teachers or an equivalent.
Under the proposed framework, CEOs would lead budget development, with unresolved disputes escalated to the minister for final decision. Any termination of a CEO would require provincial approval, a measure the government says is intended to prevent reprisals tied to enforcing fiscal accountability.
The bill would also centralize collective bargaining by designating the Council of Ontario Directors of Education as the employer bargaining agency for English public and Catholic boards, shifting negotiations to professional administrators.
In classrooms, the legislation would mandate the use of ministry-approved learning resources province-wide, a move aimed at standardizing curriculum delivery. It would also introduce compulsory written exams for students in Grades 9 through 12 on designated exam days.
Student assessment would be further altered by incorporating attendance and participation into final grades. Attendance would account for 15 per cent of marks in Grades 9 and 10, and 10 per cent in Grades 11 and 12.
The government says the changes are intended to create a more consistent learning experience and better prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce.
The bill forms part of a broader push by the province to assert greater control over school board operations, with officials emphasizing that public funding must be tied directly to student achievement and practical skill development.
Story aided by AI
