Ontario overhauls school grading starting this fall

Ontario is implementing mandatory grading changes across all secondary schools starting in September, shifting how attendance, participation, and final exams count toward student marks.

Education Minister Paul Calandra announced the changes Monday, saying the province heard "constantly" from teachers that they need better control of classrooms. The new standards are meant to grant teachers that control and ensure students grasp lessons.

For grades 9 and 10, marks will break down as 65 per cent class work, 20 per cent final evaluations, and 15 per cent attendance and participation. Grades 11 and 12 will be marked as 65 per cent class work, 25 per cent final evaluations, and 10 per cent attendance and participation. Written exams will be mandatory for English, math, and science classes.

Ontario is spending $60 million on a digital learning platform called Edwin from Nelson Education, provided to school boards as an optional resource. Teachers will not be required to use it this fall.

Teacher unions have criticized the move. Colin Matthew, vice-president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, said the spending falls far short of what teachers need compared to billions the Ford government has cut from public education since 2018. David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, called the announcement "flawed" and "dangerous," saying talk of consistency masks the province's record.