Way Forward Commitment:
Our Government, through work to be completed by the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes, will focus on better engaging students in learning and improving student outcomes. The Task Force will provide a picture of our strengths and areas to improve. The Task Force will review priority areas that include early learning, mathematics, reading/literacy, inclusive education, student mental health and wellness, multicultural education, Indigenous education, cooperative education, and teacher education and professional development.
The Premier’s Task Force recently completed provincial public consultations to gather input on the priority areas identified in their mandate. Their analysis and the work on recommendations to be delivered to Government is ongoing and is expected in late spring 2017. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will work through the various recommendations once received to develop a comprehensive Education Action Plan to better engage children and youth in learning and to foster development of skills and competencies. The implementation of recommendations will commence in the 2018 school year.
What We’ve Accomplished:
- The Premier’s Task Force concluded consultations with parents, students, educators and other key stakeholders as of March 20, 2017.
- In July 2017, the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes released its final report, Now is the Time: The Next Chapter in Education in Newfoundland and Labrador, for the consideration of Government. In Budget 2018, Government has begun to implement changes in response to that report.
- In Budget 2018, the Provincial Government allocated $6.955 million in funding, along with funding allocated for Early Childhood Development by the province and through the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which provided the means to release an Education Action Plan and commence implementation of a number of priority task force recommendations, including:
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- A new Student Support Services Policy designed to ensure that every child, regardless of ability, has access to appropriate programs, interventions, learning environments, and other services;
- Reading Specialists for schools and school districts and, Teaching and Learning Assistants in K-12 education;
- Early identification and intervention programs for reading in K-3, and new learning resources for reading assessment and instruction;
- Additional Learning Resource Teachers and additional library resources to support students’ reading;
- Professional learning for teachers to support the new Student Support Services Policy, new initiatives in reading, working collaboratively with the new teaching and learning assistants, the use of assistive technology and other areas;
- A bursary program to support K-6 teachers to upgrade their knowledge of math pedagogy through additional university courses;
- A new Special Education Case Management System to assist in the delivery of student services by providing accurate student information to guide programming for students with special needs or exceptionalities;
- New initiatives to provide experiential learning opportunities for high school students (e.g., youth apprenticeship, cooperative education);
- Increased access to high quality early learning and child care programs through enhancements to the Operating Grant Program, the Child Care Capacity Initiative, and the Child Care Services Subsidy program; and
- Improved access to post-secondary education programs and professional learning opportunities for early childhood educators, and incentives for early childhood educators to increase their professional credentials through enhancements to bursaries and grants.
- On July 13, 2018, the Provincial Government released the Education Action Plan. The plan guides actions to implement the recommendations from the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes.
- The Provincial Government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the Schools Act, 1997. While a number of amendments have been made to the act since 1997, an overall review will ensure legislation is current and reflects The Way Forward commitment and the Education Action Plan to improve outcomes for students. Public consultations were launched on February 27, 2019 and concluded on March 29, 2019.
- In keeping with a recommendation of the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes and the Education Action Plan, the Provincial Government commenced consultations in March 2019 to inform the development of a guiding document and phased-in implementation plan for Junior Kindergarten.
News Releases
Premier Opens Application Process for Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes
Premier Announces Appointments to Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes
Premier Ball Releases Final Report of the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes
Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes Launches Consultations
Positive Progress Being Made on Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes
Newfoundland and Labrador Improves Ranking in Canadian Early Childhood Education Report
Council on Higher Education Continues Its Work
Premier Ball Releases Education Action Plan
Provincial Government Invites Input as Part of Review of Schools Act, 1997
Government Invites Input on Junior Kindergarten
Minister Hawkins Highlights Progress Through the Education Action Plan