By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
The Ontario government recently tabled Bill 101, The Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026. The bill proposes major changes to school board governance. I’m digesting the bill’s components and forming opinions. My first impression is it has an emphasis on centralized control; however, there are items in the bill that are necessary to bring structure to the classroom. But I look forward to your thoughts on it.
The government’s motivation behind the bill is to improve school board supervision and accountability while safeguarding more consistent learning experiences for all students, hopefully properly preparing them for the evolving job market of the future. The government’s goal as written is to move the province toward a more accountable, transparent, and modern education system and one that delivers high-quality learning and will better support students, families, and educators across Ontario. Okay, sounds good to me.
To be clear, it sounds good to me as long as educators are not punished…but back to the bones of the bill.
Minister of Education Paul Calandra has said, “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…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.”
The government has targeted what it calls “ongoing governance breakdowns and financial mismanagement” in English public and English Catholic district school boards. Some highlights of the bill include to:
- Limit trustee discretionary expenses and honoraria, standardize the number of elected trustees to a maximum of 12;
- Equip English-language district school boards with qualified leadership by establishing two new roles: the Director of Education would become known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), responsible for financial and operational oversight and a Chief Education Officer, appointed by the CEO to focus on student achievement;
- Strengthen school board budget oversight and accountability by requiring the CEO to lead budget development, while referring budget matters to the Minister for decision when trustees are unable to reach an agreement;
- Mandate the use of ministry-approved learning resources in classrooms across the province to support greater consistency in delivering the new curriculum while making it easier for teachers to access high-quality materials, ensuring students have an equal chance to succeed no matter where they live;
- Prepare students for postsecondary pursuits by introducing mandatory written exams in Grades 9-12 and provide greater clarity on how students’ final marks are calculated;
- Encourage improved engagement in the classroom by requiring attendance and participation to be part of the final mark for students in Grades 9-12, with attendance worth 15 per cent for Grades 9-10 and 10 per cent for Grades 11-12.
Bill 101 has a component for which I’ve been advocating since 2024. The government finally heeded my advice from my two motions to make teachers’ college one year instead of two years. I initially tabled my motion in November 2024 and again in May 2025. If passed, Bill 101 would make teachers’ college one year saving students tuition money and getting qualified teachers into classrooms faster given the shortage Ontario is currently facing. Hey, maybe they’ll also act on my pleas since 2022 to return to a two-year college nursing program from the current four years and get more qualified nurses on the frontlines of healthcare faster. I can hope.
I’ll continue digesting Bill 101, but I’m most interested in what parents and teachers think.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk