Today the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Education released the report submitted by the Teacher Allocation Review Committee titled “Learning in a Time of Change.” In the report, the Committee makes 90 recommendations in five areas, including the recommendation for a teacher allocation model that considers both composition and class size. The report takes a largely student-centric view, with recommendations aimed at supporting student success through the system.
Minister Haggie will be available to the media today (Friday, October 14) at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom. Media wishing to participate must RSVP to Jillian Hood (jillianhood@gov.nl.ca) who will provide required details.
In providing its recommendations, the Committee concludes that providing additional resources to reduce class size is by itself insufficient to foster changes in student success. The committee stresses that reducing class size will not achieve positive outcomes without a comprehensive approach addressing several other factors.
The new allocation model presented by the Committee includes changes to current class caps that would reduce class sizes from Kindergarten to Grade 9, including introducing the lowest class maximums in the country for Kindergarten to Grade 2.
The full report can be found here. Analysis is underway into the cost, feasibility and other considerations presented by the report, and further discussions with educational and union partners will follow.
Quotes
“First and foremost, I thank the Committee members for their in-depth look at the status of education in this province. Their review is timely in light of the changes underway to integrate the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District into government, and will help inform areas of focus for that process. These changes will not occur overnight, as the recommendations have significant implications for classroom composition, collective bargaining, and infrastructure that must be explored in depth, both internally and with our partners in the education system. We look forward to engaging with key stakeholders to determine a path forward.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Education
“The recommendations in this report are about change, not only a change in class size but also a change in approach. They call upon government to exercise its financial and legislative powers, and visionary leadership, in the interests of improving education for all students and advancing social and economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Marian Fushell
Chair of the Teacher Allocation Review Committee
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Report: Learning in a Time of Change
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Nancy Hollett
Education
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BACKGROUNDER
Recommendations of the Teacher Allocation Review Committee
The Teacher Allocation Review Committee’s Report includes 90 recommendations in five general areas: The Management of Resources, Teacher Education and Professional Learning, Instructional Focus, Proposed Teacher Allocation Model, and Implementation.
Recommendations 1-18 – Management of Resources: Focuses on areas such as collective bargaining, school organization, teacher recruitment, and managing allocations.
Recommendations 19-27 – Teacher Education and Professional Learning: Includes an additional focus on teacher accreditation and defining roles and responsibilities.
Recommendations 28-48 – Instructional Focus: Covers a wide array of areas including computer support, teaching strategies, assessment, expansion of the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation and a review of the junior high school program.
Recommendations 49-89 – Proposed Allocation Model: Suggests addressing class composition, reducing class size, refocusing guidance and IRT work, and increasing time for administrators and guidance.
Recommendation 90 – Implementation: Recommends that the Minister of Education appoint an educational leader, directly accountable to the Minister and the Clerk of Executive Council, to lead the recommendations in this report.
The recommendations are far ranging and apply to all facets of the education system including teacher training, educational delivery, resourcing, professional learning, and organizational effectiveness.