Tuesday marks the official return to school for hundreds of thousands of Ontario students, but the academic scene within those walls will have a different look this fall. If your summer was filled with beach days and cottage trips, here are some key updates you might have missed.
In June, Education Minister Paul Calandra announced several changes, one being the requirement for final written exams for most high school courses. This adjustment aims to ensure a consistent approach to assessment and evaluation for students in Grades 9 to 12.
For Grades 9 and 10, mandatory final written exams now hold a 20% weight in core subjects such as English, math, and science. Meanwhile, in Grades 11 and 12, exams make up 25% of the grades in core subjects, with non-core subjects dividing final evaluations between a written exam and a culminating project.
Attendance and participation will now factor into final grades, with 15% for Grades 9 and 10 and 10% for higher grades. Students with more than two unexcused absences will not receive the full attendance percentage.
Furthermore, a new financial literacy graduation requirement mandates that Ontario high school students pass a financial literacy test to graduate. Grade 10 students will take this evaluation in Career Studies (GLC2O) and must score at least 70% to pass.
Additionally, student and family support offices will be available at all 72 school boards in Ontario. These offices aim to provide parents and caregivers with a clear next step when concerns cannot be resolved at the school level.
A new kindergarten curriculum, focusing on academic rigor over play-based learning, will also be implemented this school year. The updated curriculum introduces new learning requirements in math, science, and language skills while maintaining learning through play.
These changes reflect the province’s commitment to enhancing the educational experience for students across Ontario.