The Ontario Curriculum

The Ministry of Education administers the system of publicly funded elementary and secondary school education in Ontario, in accordance with and under the authority of the Education Act.

The Minister of Education, through the ministry, issues curricula, sets diploma requirements and sets policy for student assessment.

Curriculum documents define what students are taught in Ontario public schools. They detail the knowledge and skills that students are expected to develop in each subject at each grade level. By developing and publishing curriculum documents for use by all Ontario teachers, the Ministry of Education sets standards for the entire province.

Subject by subject, exemplars show teachers key features to look for when grading student work. These documents feature samples of actual student work at each of the four levels of achievement, accompanied by teachers' comments explaining why the particular achievement level was assigned. Parents and students may also find these documents helpful.

Policy documents outline mandatory requirements and standards. Resource documents support implementations of policy and their use is a local decision

In the case of education, Language, Grades 1-8 is an example of a curriculum policy document. It sets out what the public can expect children to learn in Ontario's elementary Language program.

On the other hand, the publication The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: English As a Second Language and English Literacy Development – A Resource Guide is a resource that supports the Language policy. It helps teachers ensure that students from other backgrounds meet the curriculum expectations.

In 2003, the Ministry of Education established a schedule for ongoing curriculum review. Each year, a number of subject areas enter the review process, to ensure they are kept current, relevant and age-appropriate. In September 2007, this process will be in its fifth year of a 7-year cycle.

Reviews are conducted with great care. Comprehensive information-gathering includes:

• Studying research in the subject area
• Comparison with other jurisdictions
• Focus groups comprised of educators from all Ontario school boards
• Technical content analysis conducted by subject experts
• Consultations with:
  • Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education
  • Faculties of Education
  • Employers
  • Parents
  • Students
  • Universities, colleges
  • Other branches of the Ministry of Education
  • Other ministries
  • NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations).

These sources of information form the basis of recommended revisions to the curriculum. Writing teams drawn from school boards across the province then develop revised English and French documents.

Teachers began using the following revised curricula in September 2007:

• English, Grades 9 and 10
• English, Grades 11 and 12
• English As a Second Language and English Literacy Development, Grades 9-12
• Mathematics, Grades 11 and 12

Teachers began using the following revised curricula in September 2006:

• Business Studies, Grades 9 and 10
• Business Studies, Grades 11 and 12
• Guidance and Career Education, Grades 9 and 10
• Guidance and Career Education, Grades 11 and 12
• Kindergarten
• Language, Grades 1 to 8
• Mathematics, Grade 11

Teachers began using the following revised curricula in September 2005:

• Canadian and World Studies, Grades 9 and 10
• Canadian and World Studies, Grades 11 and 12
• History and Geography, Grades 7 and 8
• Mathematics, Grades 1 to 8
• Mathematics, Grades 9 and 10
• Social Studies, Grades 1 to 6

Parents, employers, educators and professors have valuable insights on how to improve Ontario's curriculum. In March 2007, a group of knowledgeable and committed community leaders was brought together to advise the minister of education. They will provide high level strategic advice on issues related to elementary and secondary school curriculum. Visit the Curriculum Council website.