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Two faculty, Dr. Beyhan Farhadi and Dr. Vidya Shah, and alumni Dr. Sachin Maharaj penned this column about the latest education reforms for Ontario schools.

Cours du CREFO offerts en mai/juin et juillet/août 2026

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OISE Faculty, Students and Alumni had a special evening mingling with the broader research community, recounting the week's conversations in a welcoming setting.

Highlights include: $10/day childcare - $81.6 million; PEI School Food program - $8.3 million; Free K-9 school supplies - $985,000; Free universal pre-k - $1.6 million; Enhanced PEI Child Benefit - $4.5 million; 400 new early centre spaces - $4.2 million.

Excerpt: "Today, the Ontario government introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, to strengthen school board oversight and accountability and ensure more consistent learning experiences for students to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. The proposed changes would move Ontario toward a more accountable, consistent and modern model of high-quality education that better serves students, families and educators across the province."

Excerpt: "The ECE Recruit-Back Incentive provides eligible Early Childhood Educators (ECE) with a grant of $5,000 to return to work full-time in a Manitoba licensed non-profit early learning and child care centre or licensed home. The ECE Recruit-Back Incentive supports Manitoba non-profit child care facilities in recruiting passionate and skilled ECEs, incentivizing individuals that have left Manitoba’s licensed early learning and child care sector to return to full-time work. Funding for The ECE Recruit-Back Incentive is provided under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide ELCC Agreement. "

Excerpt: "If passed, all 14 public universities in Ontario that offer a teacher education program, along with three private universities, would transition to the new one-year model, with the first cohort starting in May 2027. The one-year model would prioritize practical, in-classroom learning by establishing a minimum practicum length, to be determined through consultation with the sector, so students graduate with the hands-on learning they need to thrive in the classroom. If passed, the government would work with the Ontario College of Teachers and postsecondary partners to implement the new program model while minimizing disruption for students and institutions. The legislation would also enable the government to explore opportunities to recognize relevant prior learning and work experience for individuals pursuing a teaching career, including early childhood educator diplomas or youth work experience."

OISE and the JICS Parents Association, took to the ice for a Centennial Family Skate – and activities like line dancing, cornhole, and puzzle making!

The winners of the OISE Excellence Awards – for faculty and staff – were honoured in a ceremony on Mar. 31.

At a time when many before- and after-school programs are closing, WRDSB has taken a different approach: expanding access through school board–operated programs.

Before- and after-school care is available in all WRDSB schools for children from junior kindergarten to Grade 6. The Board directly operates extended-day child care in 75 of its 104 elementary schools, employing 330 unionized, full-time Early Childhood Educators and serving approximately 4,200 children.

The initiative started over 15 years ago as a partnership between the Region of Waterloo, the WRDSB, and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. The WRDSB continues to expand the model despite a significant province-wide shortage of early childhood educators, demonstrating how effective system design can support both access and workforce stability.

Part 1 of the series provides an overview of the Waterloo model and its outcomes.

Professor Emeritus Doug McDougall heads to AERA 2026, sharing research on de-streamed math, mentoring educators, and advancing global mathematics education.