Aboriginal Education Strategy

Backgrounder

Supporting Aboriginal Education

November 27, 2007

The McGuinty government is committed to expanding opportunities for all students. Ontario's new Aboriginal Education Strategy was launched in January 2007 with the release of the First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework . Its purpose is to help close the educational gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students and to increase knowledge and awareness about Aboriginal histories, cultures and perspectives among all students.

The Aboriginal Education Strategy includes initiatives designed for schools and school boards. It also contains initiatives to encourage and sustain Aboriginal student success, such as:

• Establishing an Aboriginal Education Office to support the learning and achievement of Aboriginal students.
• Improving literacy and numeracy skills.
• Increasing the number of Aboriginal staff working in school boards.
• Encouraging parents to get more involved in their children's education.
• Integrating information about Aboriginal culture, histories and perspectives throughout the Ontario curriculum to increase knowledge and awareness among all students.
• Building partnerships with Aboriginal communities and organizations to develop strategies to support student achievement.
• Funding of the Native Counsellor Training Program.
• Funding the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program in First Nation Secondary Schools.

Investments in Aboriginal Education

The Ontario government's investment in Aboriginal education for 2007/08 included:

• A $12.7 million investment to support the implementation of the First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework.
• The First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Supplement, which provides an additional $10.5 million to:
• Increase funding for Native Languages programs offered in any of the seven Native Languages recognized in the Ontario curriculum.
• Increase funding for boards to offer any of the 10 native studies courses available in the Ontario curriculum.
• Offer additional funding to support programs that assist Aboriginal students.

Other investments included initiatives that support the academic achievement and success of Aboriginal students:

• Aboriginal Student Success Projects that give Aboriginal students more options to complete their secondary education.
• Alternative Secondary School Programs in Native Friendship Centres to help Aboriginal students at risk of leaving high school – and those who have already left – to complete their diploma.
• Projects within school boards focused on mentorship, community outreach, and transitions for Aboriginal students.

A new investment is being made to support the needs of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students. Because 70 per cent of these students live in urban areas, $3 million has been committed to the development of a new urban pilot project:

• The project will be developed in three urban school boards, following a submissions process.
• Three new education models adapted to the needs of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students living in urban areas will be created.
• The aim of these education models will be to build family and community engagement to support Aboriginal student success.