April 28, 2024: Cracking down on cellphone use and banning vaping in schools
This letter is available many languages.
Dear parents,
For the first time in nearly a generation, our government successfully negotiated agreements with all teachers’ unions and averted strikes in schools.Thisallowed us to deliver on our promise to parents to bring stability to classrooms and keep kids in class.
As kids benefit from three more years of uninterrupted learning, I have heard from many of you, teachers and students alike, about concerns about the alarming rise of youth vaping in schools and the persistent use ofcellphonesas a distraction from learning in class.
That is why we are rolling out Canada’s most comprehensive plan to counter these threats.
To help reduce distractions in our schools, starting this September, we are denying cellphone usage during instructional time so that students can focus on getting back to basics and learning foundational skills like reading, writing and math.
Our youngest learners in kindergarten to Grade 6, who may have phones, will now be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight forthe duration ofthe day.
For students in Grades 7to12, phones can be with the student. However, they will only be permitted during instructional time if explicitly allowed by the educator.
We will also commit to having report cards include comments on students’ distraction levels in class.We recognize that some parents want to communicate with their children during school, and the policies listed above will still permit that during non-instructional time or when an educator gives permission.
When it comes tocellphones, Ontario’spolicy is:outof sight and out of mind.
We are also removing social media websites from all school networks and devices to help strengthen in-person relationships, communication and social-emotional skills.
We have also announced a strict anti-vaping policy in schools where parents are immediately informed, andthe vapes in a student’s possession will be given upand disposed of. There are immediate consequences for students caught in possession of illegal substances, and Public Health Units can also be engaged to support education, prevention and enforcement, when necessary. We are also providing funding to schools to install vape detectors so they can better enforce these new rules.
We are also increasing wrap-aroundsupportsfor students to support learning, addictive behaviours and implementation, as well as dedicated training for teachers and supports for parents on how best to manage this change. I encourage you to read the updatedProvincial Code of Conductthat outlines these changes.
No matter howstrongthe policy is, we can’t do this alone.
To truly change behaviour, weare askingfor your support and collaboration to hold conversations at home about the new expectations and the importance of respecting school staff and the rules as we head into September.
Changewill come when we all work together and stand by teachers, principals, and education workers as they implement these new measures. Your co-operation will help ensure students can get back to basics, focus on their studies, and prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.
By doing so, we restore common sense, where the focus remains on academic achievement and the safety of your child.
Thank you,
The Honourable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
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Beginning the 2023–24 school yearwith a Back to Basics focus
Dear Parents,
As we welcome students back for another school year, our priority is to deliver a normal, stable and enjoyable year of learning. I’m proud to say that Ontario’s education system has a renewed ‘back to basics’ focus, emphasizing foundational skills like reading, writing and math.
These reforms are supported by record investments in public education. Our government is providing more than $27 billion to school boards for the 2023–24 school year, including $700 million more in base education funding, and $180 million in a new strategy to boost literacy and math rates, supported by the hiring of 2,000 more educators.
Ontario’s government is absolutely committed to keeping kids in class. After reaching a tentative agreement on a process with OSSTF (English public high school teachers), we are again urging all remaining teacher unions to come to the table to sign a deal that ensures a process for uninterrupted learning for the next three years
Through the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023, our government is sending a clear signal to school boards that academic achievement is the priority. Through the Act, the Minister of Education will be able to establish additional binding directives to school boards that will be implemented to ensure all schools are focused on academic achievement and skills development, while delivering enhanced accountability and transparency for parents and families.
To ensure we support a stable learning environment with more accountability and a focus on academics, our government has required that all school boards adopt provincial student achievement priorities, including metrics to help measure success:
- improving EQAO scores in reading, writing and math
- raising graduation rates, encouraging more students to participate in job skills programs and take senior math and science courses
- improving student engagement and awareness of mental health supports
New Math and Reading Supports for 2023–24
Reading and math skills are necessary for young people to thrive in tomorrow’s economy. The province is investing $109 million in 2023-24 so that students from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 2 can be screened in early reading. Students who are struggling will be supported by intervention strategies, including up to 900 literacy educators, who will work with those children with the aim of boosting performance.
Additionally, our government has provided $825,000 to Dyslexia Canada and the International Dyslexia Association to develop evidence-based systematic and explicit instruction resources and professional learning supports that are now ready for launch.
Ontario is investing $71 million to launch a new strategy to boost math competence in the classroom. This includes the doubling of math coaches, specialized math educators, along with the introduction of Math Action Teams who will be deployed directly into schools that are behind the provincial average.
New Language Curriculum
The overhauled Language curriculum in English and French includes the introduction of phonics to support reading, cursive writing, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills, aligned with the recommendations in the Ontario Human Rights Commission Right to Read report.
New Financial Literacy Modules
Financial literacy is an essential life skill. For that reason, our government is launching new modules that will help secondary students learn how to create a budget, manage their money, protect themselves from financial scams, and plan for long-term purchases such as buying a house or a car. The Ontario government will provide a further $6.8 million over three years to further support practical, hands-on experiences for students.
New Mental Health Learning and Increased Funding
Good mental health is critically important for academic success. That is why starting this September, new learning materials for Grade 7 and 8 students are being released and will help students build a mental health toolkit. The toolkit will help students learn how to manage stress, understand the relationship between mental health and mental illness and, most importantly, know when and how to get help.
Our government has increased student mental health funding in schools to a historic $114 million in the 2023–24 school year, representing an increase of 555 per cent since 2018.
New Grade 10 Course Digital Technology Course
This new course will equip students to be the leaders of the global economy by further enhancing their coding skills, building hands-on projects, and investigating Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
Parents and children are the centre of Ontario’s publicly funded education system. As we begin this new school year, I want to thank all parents and guardians for their commitment, and wish all educators, staff and students the best of luck.
Wishing you a positive year ahead!
The Honourable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
