Ontario Launches Its "Plan to Catch Up" After Two Pandemic-Disrupted Years of Education

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After COVID-19 disrupted the last two years of education, the Government of Ontario launched its ‘Plan to Catch Up’ for the 2022-23 school year to return students to a full curriculum and experience announced on Monday.

Ajax MPP Patrice Barnes (left) with Perth - Wellington MPP Matthew Rae (right) as Hon. Stephen Leece, Minister of Education at Viola Desmond Public School’s library. Screenshot.

In attendance to make the announcement were Ajax MPP Patrice Barnes, Perth - Wellington MPP Matthew Rae and Minister of Education, Hon. Stephen Leece at Viola Desmond Public School in Ajax.

Students can engage in extracurriculars like clubs, band and field trips with the plan according to Leece.

“Our government is looking ahead as we remain squarely focused on ensuring students receive the best stable learning experience possible and that starts with them being in class, on time, with all of the experiences students deserve,” said Lecce. “We have a plan for students to catch up including the largest tutoring program in Ontario’s history, a modernized skills-focused curriculum to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, and enhanced mental health supports.”

Ontario’s ‘Plan to Catch Up’ is comprised of five key components:

  1. Getting kids back in classrooms in September, on time, with a full school experience that includes extra-curriculars like clubs, band and field trips

  2. New tutoring supports to fill gaps in learning;

  3. Preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow;

  4. Providing more money to build schools and improve education; and

  5. Helping students with historic funding for mental health supports.

According to a press release, the government has made key investments that students and educators are already benefiting from, including:

  • More than $26.6 billion in funding for the 2022-23 school year, the highest investment in public education in Ontario’s history.

  • Investing more than $175 million for enhanced tutoring support programs delivered by school boards and community partners, with a focus on reading, writing and math.

  • $304 million in time-limited funding to support the hiring of up to 3,000 frontline staff, including teachers, early childhood educators, educational assistants, and other education workers.

  • Investing $14 billion to build state-of-the-art schools and classrooms and renew and repair existing schools, including $2.1 billion for the 2022-23 school year.

  • Allocating $90 million for mental health initiatives and supports for students, a 420 per cent increase from 2017-18.

  • Additional funding to support students with exceptionalities through a $93 million increase in funding for the Special Education Grant and over $9 million in funding to support the new de-streamed grade nine program, with an emphasis on supporting students most at risk including students from racialized, Black, immigrant and Indigenous communities.

“With almost 50,000 children benefiting from Ontario’s tutoring investments every week, and summer learning programs underway province-wide, Ontario’s plan is getting students back on track,” said Lecce. “With an emphasis on getting back to basics, our government is focused on strengthening life and job skills in the classroom, so that students graduate as financially literate, technologically savvy, emotionally intelligent leaders, ready for the jobs of tomorrow.”

The full ‘Plan to Catch Up’ can be found online.

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