Policy/Program Memorandum No. 117

Issued under the authority of the Deputy Minister of Education

Introduction

Subsections 1 and 2 of section 144 of the Education Act (Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1990, Chapter E.2) state the following:

1. A person who is qualified to be a resident pupil of a public board and to receive instruction in a secondary school grade is entitled to receive instruction provided in a secondary school operated by a Roman Catholic school board if the area of jurisdiction of the public board is in whole or in part the same as the area of jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic school board.



2. A person who is qualified to be a resident pupil of a Roman Catholic school board and to receive instruction in a secondary school grade is entitled to receive instruction provided in a secondary school operated by a public board if the area of jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic school board is in whole or in part the same as the area of jurisdiction of the public board.

All school boards must, therefore, make provisions to ensure that information on the schools operated by the coterminous board and on the programs offered by the coterminous board is available in their elementary schools, since pupils and their parents must have an opportunity to learn about the secondary schools and programs of the coterminous board in order to make an informed decision. In addition, pupils and their parents must have access to the guidance and/or other appropriate personnel of the coterminous board so that they can receive assistance with educational planning.

Policy on Access to Information and Guidance Services

1. Access to Information on School Programs
   Each coterminous public and Roman Catholic school board shall:
   1. provide materials containing information on the secondary schools of the board to the board of the other system;
      
      
   2. distribute materials containing information on programs available in the secondary schools of the other system to each Grade 8 pupil who attends a local elementary school in the board's jurisdiction and to the parent(s) of each Grade 8 pupil.
   
   
   
2. Access to Guidance and / or Other Personnel
   Each coterminous public and Roman Catholic school board shall:
   1. inform Grade 8 pupils and their parents about how to contact guidance personnel and/or other appropriate personnel in the secondary schools of the other system;
      
      
   2. allow guidance and/or other appropriate personnel representing the secondary schools in the other system to meet with all Grade 8 pupils and their parents to discuss school and program options.
   
   
   
3. Timeliness of Access
   School boards shall ensure that Grade 8 pupils and their parents have access to information on secondary schools and programs and to guidance and/or other appropriate personnel of the coterminous board before decisions regarding program and/or school selection have to be made every year.

Clarification and Implementation of Policy

Staff members of the regional offices of the Ministry of Education and Training are available to clarify the policy, if necessary. In the event that disagreements regarding implementation occur between coterminous school boards, either school board may refer the matter to the appropriate regional office for resolution.