Latest news with #publicschool
CTV News
12 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Insight into restructured RISE special needs program
Jacqueline Anderach received a letter from the public school board last week outlining changes to the Reaching Individual Success and Excellence (RISE) special education program in September. 'I need him to move ahead, not backwards,' said Anderach, who worries her son might fall further behind in the new system. 'I would really like to see them grandfather this program, allow these children that are currently in RISE to finish, you know, allow them the opportunity for success here. Every child learns differently.' With a focus on language, arts, and math, RISE provides individualized programming for students. That will change in September after a deep year-long consultation period led by researchers, involving parents, students, and many stakeholders. This fall, students from the RISE program will be placed in their homerooms full-time instead of part-time. 'When they go back to the homeroom, we're going to be looking at individualized support, especially in reading,' said Chris Mills, superintendent of Education and Special Education. 'We've purchased some additional resources to help with math knowledge attainment.' Mills said the change was necessary. 'The original intent of the program was for students to go in for a short period of time to catch up to the same age level peers and then return to the homeroom,' Mills explained. He said the board found that didn't happen for some over the course of time. 'Students stayed in those courses for long periods of time and that changed their trajectory. It forced decisions at the high school level and then forced decisions at post-secondary. A lot of our students not going to college or university.' Mills said instruction will come from the homeroom teacher with help from learning support staff, which many schools will receive. He added students will continue to have access to learning tools like computers and iPads. 'We want to support our students,' Mills said. Mario Spagnuolo, local president of the Essex County District School Board, feels it's not a one size fits all model. 'For some kids, it will work, but we've had that option of integration all along anyways,' noted the local president of the Greater Essex Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. 'It's for the kids that really need that intense programing, they won't have that option anymore.' Spagnuolo said he recently met with representatives at the school board, suggesting they work together to advocate with the current government to secure more funding for students with special needs. 'The data is very clear. There's billions of dollars being taken out of public education so instead of fighting each other, why don't we come together as a community and go after where we all are pointing fingers – and that's the Ministry of Education,' Spagnuolo said.
Forbes
15 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
Microschooling Spreads In Choice-Friendly States
Ar'Jillian Gilmer with her microschool students When Ar'Jillian Gilmer launched her Arkansas microschool last fall, she wanted to create a new education option for students who were not thriving in a conventional classroom. A longtime public school teacher in Little Rock who had been offering personalized tutoring services since 2020, Gilmer knew that one-size-fits-all schooling wasn't always best for students. She became increasingly interested in the concept of microschooling, or an educational approach that prioritizes highly individualized, affordable, flexible learning. 'I'm a proponent for whatever educational setting works best for the child,' said Gilmer. 'If your child is doing well in public school, great. Leave them there. But if your child needs a smaller class size, if they need more one-on-one or small group attention, then a microschool setting might be good.' Since 2020, microschools have spread rapidly all across the U.S., as I document in my new book; but they are particularly popular in states with expansive school-choice programs. These choice-friendly states have passed legislation that enables families to use a portion of state-allocated education funding toward their preferred learning environment. Arkansas is one of the 35 states with a private school choice program, and one of 16 with universal eligibility, applying to all K-12 students. It is also one of the leading states to include microschools in its school-choice programs. Gilmer opened her faith-based K-8 microschool with eight students, all of whom are legally considered homeschoolers but attend her program four full days a week. Her enrollment has nearly doubled in just one year. Part of that growth, says Gilmer, is attributable to the strong academic progress of her students, including those with special learning needs such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism. These positive outcomes are attracting more families. The other part of her growth is that Arkansas microschools and similar learning options are now more accessible than ever due to the state's education savings account (ESA) school-choice program, which was enacted in 2023. 'The ESA makes those options available for families who, honestly, can't afford to pay for microschool tuition out of pocket,' said Gilmer, explaining that all but one of the 15 families enrolled in her microschool for fall are attending tuition-free. She intentionally priced her microschool tuition at $5,900 a year, below the $6,800 annual ESA amount for which each student is eligible. 'The whole purpose of not charging the full amount of the ESA is so that families are able to purchase resources, materials, field trips and other learning experiences that will be approved outside of the microschool,' said Gilmer. Spotting mounting demand for innovative education options, Gilmer is in the process of applying to become an approved educational provider in nearby Alabama, which enacted its universal ESA program last year. 'I'm just waiting for that final approval from Alabama,' said Gilmer. 'They did not give any sense of timing. I'm hoping it will be before August so that students can take advantage of it for the 2025/2026 school year.' The common aim of ESA programs is to enable funding to follow families, but implementation and administration of these programs can vary by state. Clarity around rules and regulations can sometimes be lacking. For example, when the Alabama legislature passed its ESA program, the CHOOSE Act, some foster children were not eligible to participate. Organizations such as the Alabama Policy Institute (API), which has been a strong supporter of school-choice policies, pushed to clarify ESA eligibility during the administrative rulemaking process. 'We were able to make sure that foster kids outside of the scope of our Department of Human Resources were included through the regulatory process,' said Stephanie Smith, API's President and CEO, adding that she worked closely with Big Oak Ranch, an Alabama-based nonprofit that provides a home to kids in need. 'Now, each of their kids has $7,000 for private school.' A new paper published by State Policy Network, of which API is a member, urges transparency through rulemaking to help ensure that the rollout of an ESA program preserves its intended flexibility. Jennifer Wolverton welcomes this transparency. A former engineer and founder of MARS, a STEM-based microschool for homeschoolers in Huntsville, Alabama, Wolverton is thrilled that her families are able to use their ESA funds to access the state-of-the-art technological tools and curriculum she offers. But she also spots limitations in the ESA rollout. 'The CHOOSE Act was meant to expand access, but the current ESA rules can block innovation and burden the very providers working to serve students,' said Wolverton. 'Cutting-edge microschools like MARS don't fit neatly into the old categories of tutor or private school. Yet, we're often forced to navigate rules clearly not written with us in mind.' As education choice policies expand nationwide, education entrepreneurship in choice-friendly states will continue to accelerate. Making it easier for founders to start and scale their new schools and learning models by removing regulatory burdens will boost the variety and abundance of choices available to families. 'Choice is important,' said Gilmer of Arkansas. 'Sometimes we need a hand to help us reach the goals that we have for our children, and ESAs give families those options.'
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli strike targets vehicle near a school in South Lebanon's Borj Qalaouiye
An Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle near the public school in the town of Borj Qalaouiye in South Lebanon, according to preliminary information. Initial reports indicate that the driver was injured in the attack.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
OCDSB mulls budget options in quest to save $20M
Social Sharing Ottawa's largest public school board is mulling ways to find close to $20 million in savings in order to avoid a fifth consecutive deficit, before finalizing its budget next month. At an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) committee of the whole meeting Wednesday night, chief financial officer Randy Gerrior presented trustees with a range of cost-saving options as the board finds itself in a vulnerable financial position with no reserves. Under the Education Act, school boards in Ontario are required to pass a balanced budget by June 30. Among the potential measures under discussion are cuts to some programs such as adult high school, and reorganizing other programs such as special education. The board is also looking at selling off surplus properties that have been sitting vacant, such as the former McGregor Easson Public School on Dynes Road. The board could also rein in short-term discretionary spending on guest speakers, travel and other expenses not related to the classroom. "I do believe we've identified enough potential reductions [that] we could present a balanced budget to the trustees and we could execute that balanced budget next year and move toward better financial health," Gerrior told CBC. Gerrior warned the board can't be sure it has struck the right balance until this fall's enrolment figures are finalized. Trustee Lyra Evans said she understands the need to make tough decisions, but worried staff would leave trustees no choice but to approve their preferred cuts. Gerrior said it would be unrealistic for trustees to expect "a buffet of options." Financial pressures Among the financial pressures detailed in Gerrior's report is the provincial moratorium on school closures. The OCDSB must maintain more than 17,000 vacant pupil spaces, costing the board nearly $20 million in revenue, according to the report. "The funding formula for the operations of the Facilities Department is based on a per pupil amount, meaning the organization is not properly funded to support the administrative infrastructure and operating costs of under-utilized schools," the report said. Gerrior said during the meeting that even if that moratorium was lifted, the board wouldn't immediately be able to recoup all of that money. Other key pressures include paying supply teachers when permanent staff take sick leave, as well as statutory benefits, inflation, portables classrooms and special education supports. Too few payroll clerks During Wednesday's meeting, Gerrior said the board's administration is not among the areas being considered for cuts, noting the board has "had trouble making payroll a couple of times" due to a lack of clerks. "If you cut more of my finance clerks who work in payroll, I wouldn't be able to meet those obligations [to pay employees]," he told CBC. " We're squeezing as hard as we can, but you know it can't all be administration." At one point, trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth asked if lowering the temperature in schools could help save money. The board's director of education Pino Buffone said when that was tried in the past, staff brought in their own space heaters, upping energy costs. "So it's not just simple reduction in a degree — it can actually do the reverse effect," he said. Staff will present a budget to trustees on June 10, which Gerrior said would contain more details about proposed reductions. The board is slated to vote on the budget June 23. "We absolutely have a plan, but the trustees do have to be willing to approve that plan. I know some of the recommendations we're going to make are not popular recommendations with the community members or the trustees," Gerrior said.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa's public school board faces multi-million-dollar budget pressure from empty desks, inflation
The OCDSB says it remains hopeful a deal can still be reached before Wednesday. Empty desks in schools, the costs for substitute teachers and inflation are creating a multi-million-dollar budget pressure on Ottawa's public school board. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) will receive a report tonight called 'Financial Sustainability Plan and Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Landscape,' as trustees prepare to begin debate on the 2025-26 budget. Trustees have been told they will need to find up to $20 million in savings to balance the budget for the next school year. 'The district will need to produce a balanced budget, which will have significant reductions from previous years to address the chronic underfunding in some areas of the funding formula,' says the report. 'The areas that remain for reduction are limited as the organization has reduced expenses since the end of the pandemic period.' 'The OCDSB must also commit to better business practices and a continued effort to align revenues and expenses to carefully eliminate structural deficits.' A report, prepared by OCDSB associate director of education Randall Gerrior, outlines key pressures the OCDSB is facing that are not covered by Ontario government funding, as it aims to avoid a deficit budget for a fifth straight school year. The cost pressures include $20 million being taken from programs to support the maintenance of underutilized schools across the district. Gerrior says the OCDSB has over '17,000 vacant pupil places, which are significantly consolidated in some areas.' 'The funding formula for the operations of the Facilities Department is based on a per pupil amount, meaning the organization is not properly funded to support the administrative infrastructure and operating costs of under-utilized schools,' Gerrior said in the report. 'The district does not receive enough funding to heat, cool, clean, remove snow, and provide the necessities for maintenance of those buildings.' More than 30 OCDSB elementary schools have an occupancy level below 70 per cent, according to documents released during the elementary program review. The OCDSB is facing a budget pressure of $16.8 million to cover costs for replacing staff. Gerrior says the current budget for staff replacement costs is $31.5 million, but the Ministry of Education funding covers $14.7 million. 'Staff have seen improvements in these expenses based on wellness programs and other return-to-work initiatives,' Gerrior said in the report. 'The district will continue to invest in these programs, but this remains one of the single largest underfunded pressures for the organization, and continued advocacy is required to align funding with expenses.' Inflation is expected to add a $12 million pressure to the 2025-26 budget, with Gerrior saying the funding 'must be found from other areas.' 'The rising cost of living is also part of contract negotiations, with unions positioning for higher wages for its members which adds further pressure to the ability to meet the operational needs of schools and central buildings,' Gerrior said. 'While it is difficult to put an exact amount on the amount of pressure that inflation is having on school boards, it is safe to say that the 2 per cent that the ministry provides on some envelopes is far below both Consumer Price Index (CPI) and experienced increases in core services like cleaning supplies, snow removal, and software contracts which have gone up over 30-50 per cent in the past two years.' Other budget pressures facing the OCDSB include $10 million for statutory benefits for OCDSB staff, $2.2 million for portables and funding for special education supports. Budget savings for 2025-26 The report says the OCDSB has found $6 million in savings through a review of professional development, guest speakers, travel and other expenses not related to the classrooms. A program review and a benchmarking study to identify positions that are 'outside other districts and funding models,' are anticipated to find $15 million to $20 million in reductions over the next two years. 'The district should also see the divestment of some surplus properties to help generate revenue to cover the deficit and rebuild some of the reserves,' Gerrior said. In March, the board approved a plan to cut more than 150 teaching and administrative positions, which could save more than $15 million. Ministry of Education funding Staff at the OCDSB are reviewing recent Ontario government funding announcements The Ministry of Education announced last week the OCDSB will receive $1.079 billion in funding for the new school year, up from $1.047 billion for the 2024-25 school year. The $31 million in extra funding includes an additional $18.9 million for classroom staffing, $3.1 million for special education funding and $2.8 million for student transportation. 'While the Ministry of Education continues to share that they are investing record amounts in public education, there remains a shortfall between the funds provided for centrally approved pay raises and the actual costs for these raises,' says the OCDSB report. 'Further, the most recent additional funds are not new additions to the school board budgets that allow for additional investments in the classroom.'
