Ontario Implements Sweeping Education Overhaul for 2026-2027 School Year

Ontario has introduced a series of significant policy changes for the 2026-2027 school year, focusing on standardized assessment and increased accountability for students. As first reported by CBC Toronto, Education Minister Paul Calandra announced the implementation of mandatory final written exams for most high school courses to ensure a more consistent approach to evaluation for students in Grades 9 through 12.

Under the new rules, final written exams for core subjects such as science, math, and English will account for 20 per cent of the final grade for Grade 9 and 10 students, with the EQAO Grade 9 mathematics assessment serving as the written final. For students in Grades 11 and 12, these exams will represent 25 per cent of the grade in core subjects. Non-core subjects will utilize a split evaluation consisting of a culminating project and a written exam. CBC Toronto notes that special education, co-op, and workplace preparation courses are exempt from written exams, though non-written final evaluations are still required.

In an effort to combat what Minister Calandra described to The Canadian Press as some of the worst attendance rates in the country, the province is now incorporating attendance and participation into final marks. For Grades 9 and 10, this factor accounts for 15 per cent of the final grade, while it accounts for 10 per cent for upper-year students. Students with more than two unexcused absences will be ineligible for the full percentage. The province specifies that religious holidays and illnesses are considered excused absences and will not impact grades.

Graduation requirements have also expanded to include a mandatory financial literacy test. Grade 10 students must score at least 70 per cent on a standardized evaluation within their Career Studies (GLC2O) course. According to the province's website, the test covers consumer awareness, saving strategies, credit cards, interest rates, and household budgeting. Students are given two opportunities to pass during the course, with additional opportunities provided outside the course for those who do not meet the benchmark.

Beyond high school, the province is introducing a "back-to-basics" kindergarten curriculum. CBC Toronto reports that this new framework moves away from the previous emphasis on exploration and play-based learning in favor of academic rigor, introducing new requirements for language skills, science, and math. Some teachers have raised concerns regarding whether these new expectations are age-appropriate for four-year-olds.

Finally, the province is expanding student and family support offices to all 72 school boards. Minister Calandra stated that these offices are intended to provide parents and caregivers with a clear escalation path for complex issues that cannot be resolved by a principal or teacher. The program was first introduced last fall when five school boards were placed under provincial control due to alleged mismanagement.