HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-04-01, Page 12THE HURON EXPOSITOR, April 1, 191111-11
Putting Kids First.
HOW ONTARIO IS KEEPING KIDS FRONT AND CENTRE
BY SPENDING MORE IN THE CLASSROOM.
The Government of Ontario has taken another step in reforming the educational system.
With the new 'Fair Funding Formula.' classroom spending will increase in every
school board next year. By the year 2000 classroom spending will increase by
$583 million. Meanwhile. sPending on administration will go down and funds will be
reinvested where they will do the most gexxf: in the classroom with teachers and kids.
At the same' time. it puts an end to the out:of-control taxing and spending by school ,
boards that has permitted unacceptable increases in educatiolt pkoper% taxes.
We're spending more on:
* Classroom teachers
* Supply teachers
Teaching assistants
* Textbooks, pencils,
paper and supplies
* Computers
* Library & Guidance
* Professional &
Paraprofessional supports
(like school psychologists
and speech pathologists)
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We're spending less on bureaucrats and other
non -teaching staff and expenses:
* Directors and senior
supervisory officers
*, Board administration
* Trustees
*Instructional supervision
supervisory officers
* Instructional supervision
clerical/secretarial
* Instructional supervision
educator support staff
* Department heads
* Classroom consultants
* School operations
* Custodial and
maintenance services
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, CLASSROOM SPENDING WILL BE DEFINED AND PROTECTED FROM BEING
WHITTLED AWAY ON NON -CLASSROOM USE BY SCHOOL BOARDS.
PER -PUPIL GRANTS WILL LEVEL
THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL.
Each individual student will now be covered by a basic. universal grant. wherever
he or she lives in the province.
But not all students have the same educational needs. and the new 'Fair Funding
Formula' recognizes this through a variety of special grants, including over $1 billion
for "special education. " This includes additional help for kids with learning disabilities
and enrichment programs for gifted children. These funds must be spent on "special
education.- not diverted to anything else - like school boardpay raises or public relations firms.
®IS THE GOVERNMENT CUTTING EDUCATION
SPENDING?
No. 1hat 's a myth. Education spending will be stable at oven
..$13 billion for each of the next three.years. When combined
With current pension contributions this will total $14.4, billion
in 1998/99. Ilowever. the penrntage of those funds spent 00
classroom education will go up front 61(4', to 65'%f, of total
educatioin spending • while the percentage spent on
administration will go down.
® WILL. TEACHERS GET [Alt) OFF?
By the year 2000. we expert an overall increase in the total
number of classroom leachers of approximately 3000. because
tinkling levels for teachers have gone up and am protected
urxkr t i ssrcxrm six'nding.'
Other grants help kids who are at high risk of droOping out. We will also help schools
with special challenges. such as city schools with lots of kids who speak neither English
nor French. and rural or northern schools with their own special needs.
JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN OR
EARLY LEARNING GUARANTEES. ,
We believe - as do the early learning specialists we've consulted • that every child in
Ontario has the right to the lifelong advantages afforded by early learning opportunities.
That's why the government's new 'Fair Funding Formla' includes full funding of
traditional junior kindergarten classes or otter early learning progrartn based 00 lexal•choices.
Q&A
® WILL EVERY SCHOOL OFFER JUNIOR
KINDERGARTEN NOWT
11'5 up to them. They'll have the funding to do so. But they'll
also have the flexibility to offer an alternative early learning
program. Parents and local school boards will make the final
decision on which option will serve their nerds best.
® WILL CLASS SIZES GO UP?
Average maximum class sires have now leen capped at 25 for
elementary school students and 22 for secondary school stuhients.
Die government will provide funding for additional teachers hired
to meet dxse new class sire requirements
® WON'T SCHOOLS BECOME OVERCROWDED?
No. Schools an' now funded on a peer -pupil basis. so when
enrolment gas up. school funding gas up too. This funding
can go to adding classes and teachers. anil to additional
school facilities.
The 'Fair Funding Formula' for education reform. Putting kids first.
For more information on Ontario's new student -focused funding, phone 1-800-837-1077 or visit www.edu.gov,on.ca
Ontario
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