PRESIDENT'S JOURNAL
Equity and Inclusive Education Policy
This past fall the Ministry of Education introduced the Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation of Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy. It is a comprehensive and ambitious strategy that has challenges for all four sectors of publically-funded education. It raises particular challenges for our Catholic system to which CPCO is most attuned.
In order to ensure significant input from Catholic school and system leaders and to ensure that the voice of Catholic education is heard, CPCO is leading and participating in the following initiatives:
1. Equity and Inclusion Task Group
The recent formation of a joint Equity and Inclusion Task Group includes legal representatives from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Keel Cottrelle LLP, as well as key representation from the four publically-funded sectors of education.
The deliverables of the Task Group are:
• Template policy including mission statements for 8 areas of focus (four versions: English Catholic, French Catholic, French public, English public);
• Religious accommodation guidelines for each of the four sectors;
• Template procedure and implementation plan (one document with two pieces: one for boards, and one for schools); and
• Best practices and training.
To read the Guidelines click here.
2. Equity and Inclusive Education Symposium: Connecting Communities
CPCO was invited by the Ministry to take the lead in coordinating this learning opportunity. Scheduled for December 9, 2009, the symposium will feature internationally renowned diversity strategist Trevor Wilson. Several breakout sessions facilitated by practitioners including CPCO members have also been organized for the day. Four representatives (the equity lead, a supervisory officer, an elementary school principal and a secondary school principal) from every school board across the province will be engaged in learning, networking and professional dialogue.
3. The CPCO/OCSOA Speaker Series
Randall Lindsey is facilitating a one day interactive workshop on Culturally Proficient Leadership. It is scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2010 at the Toronto Eaton Centre Marriott. It will provide exemplary ongoing formation in creating and sustaining equity and inclusion in our schools and boards. Click here for more details and to register.
Upcoming Events
| November 25 | Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington PVP association visit |
| November 27 | FACE meeting |
| November 28 | Constitution committee and Member Security meetings |
| November 30 | Sudbury PVP association visit |
| December 1 | Simcoe Muskoka PVP association visit |
| December 2 | Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary PVP association visit |
If you would like to comment or provide feedback on the President’s Journal, please contact Paul Lacalamita at president@cpco.on.ca.