PUT TITLE HEREThe Ontario Curriculum and the Curriculum Review Process

Presented by: Curriculum and Assessment Policy BranchMinistry of Education

The Ontario Curriculum

•How does the curriculum review process work?

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Curriculum Review

The curriculum review process (2003):• responds to government’s sustained focus on:

• improving student achievement;• closing the gaps;• increasing public confidence in our publicly-

funded education system.

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Components of Curriculum Review

Developments in the Curriculum Review Process

A. The Curriculum Council– The Council provides high level strategic policy advice to

enhance, not replace, the curriculum review process

– The Council has provided advice to the Minister on:• Environmental education• The “overcrowded” elementary curriculum• Financial literacy in the Ontario curriculum• strengthening equity and inclusive education principles and bullying

prevention strategies across the curriculum

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Developments in the Curriculum Review Process

B. Process

– Expansion of the consultation process with students, parents, aboriginal communities, diverse stakeholders

– In 2007, a year was added to the process between releases of revised curriculum and mandatory implementation to allow more time for schools and school boards to prepare for implementation and for resource providers to provide curriculum-linked supports

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Developments in the Curriculum Review ProcessC. Documents

– Reduction in number of specific expectations

– Addition of expanded examples, sample issues, teacher prompts, student responses as appropriate to provide guidance for teachers

– Additions to the Considerations for Program Planning section in the Introduction:• Environmental Education• Equity and Inclusive Education- includes aboriginal perspectives and anti-

discrimination• Healthy Relationships• Financial Literacy• Literacy, Mathematical Literacy, and Inquiry• Expanded sections to support program planning for English Language

Learners and students with Special Education Needs• Revised and updated sections on Information and Communications

Technology, Health and Safety, Career Awareness

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Developments in the Curriculum Review Process

C. Documents (continued)

– Increased opportunities to reflect First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives

– Increased opportunities to address equity and diversity

– Infusion of environmental education in all grades and subjects

– Enhancement of financial literacy in Grades 4-12 in all subjects as appropriate

– Development of new optional courses in some curricula based on needs analysis

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Revised Curriculum Release by Year

2004Social Studies, Grades 1-6; History & Geography, Grades 7-8

2005Canadian and World Studies, Grades 9-10

Canadian and World Studies, Grades 11-12

Mathematics, Grades 1-8

2006The Kindergarten ProgramLanguage, Grades 1-8Mathematics, Grades 9-10 Business Studies, Grades 9-10Business Studies, Grades 11-12Guidance and Career Education, Grades 9-10Guidance and Career Education, Grades 11-12

2007Science and Technology, Grades 1-8

English, Grades 9-10

English, Grades 11-12

ESL/ELD, Grades 9-12

Mathematics, Grades 11-12

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Revised Curriculum Release by Year

2008 Science, Grades 9-10

Science, Grades 11-12

Computer Studies, Grades 10-12

2009The Arts, Grades 1-8Technological Education, Grades 9-10Technological Education, Grades 11-12

2010The Full-Day Early Learning-Kindergarten Program (draft) The Extended-Day Program (draft) Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8 (Interim Edition) The Arts, Grades 9-10The Arts, Grades 11-12

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Completing the Review Cycle

• Social Science and the Humanities, Grades 9-12• French as a Second Language, Grades 1-8 • French as a Second Language, Grades 9-12• Social Studies, Grades 1-6, History, Geography, Grades 7-8• Canadian & World Studies, Grades 9-12 • First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies, Grades 9-12• Classical Studies and International Languages, Grades 9-12• Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8• Health and Physical Education, Grades 9-12• Native Languages, Grades 1-8• Native Languages, Grades 9-12• Interdisciplinary Studies, Grades 11-12

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