January 4, 1996
(Executive Council)

Legislation on educational reform

Premier Clyde Wells today received confirmation from the Prime Minister, the Honourable Jean Chretien, that the federal government intends to proceed with the amendment to Term 17 of the Newfoundland Terms of Union. In a letter to the Premier, the Prime Minister said: "I expect that the government will be in a position to table it in Parliament once the House reconvenes in February."

Premier Wells said that the provincial government is ready to proceed now with legislation providing for a major restructuring of the education system in Newfoundland and Labrador. "This will enable the province to create an education system which is second to none in the world," said the Premier. "It will provide our children with the opportunity to compete with children from across Canada and throughout the world. As we continue the rapid movement to a true global economy it is imperative that our children are prepared to compete on a level playing field in what is becoming a highly competitive world," said Premier Wells.

The legislation is designed to bring about reforms, along the lines recommended by the Williams Royal Commission and subsequently endorsed by the people of the province in the referendum of September 5, 1995.

Premier Wells says the proposed legislation has been carefully drafted after several years of public consultation and input from people throughout the province. He pointed out that government has made every attempt to accommodate the concerns of all our citizens, church leaders and educators before reaching a final position on the new legislation. In particular, the legislation addresses the rights of students and parents, increased participation of parents in schools through school councils, emphasis on high standards and expectations, the need for increased instructional time, and increased public accountability for schools and school boards. The Premier says he is confident that many of the significant reforms recommended by the Williams' Commission will be in place for the school year beginning in September 1996.

1. The main features of the proposed new legislation are:
2. The current 27 denominational school boards will be replaced by 10 regional inter-denominational boards, each serving all schools in an area of the province.
3. School boards will be fully elected, with 10 denominational representatives and five persons of no declared denominational affiliation.
4. All schools will have to be viable, in accordance with specific criteria. Schools in small isolated communities will be provided with extra support to ensure their viability. Other non-viable schools will be consolidated.
5. Most schools will become inter-denominational, with students of all faiths having a right to attend. Where there is demand, and where numbers warrant, schools for specific denominations or denominational groups will continue to exist. A registration process will be conducted by school boards to determine the demand for inter-denominational and uni-denominational schools. The main impact on teachers is that, except for uni-denominational schools, teachers will no longer be hired or dismissed on denominational grounds. School boards will also be required to attempt to place in other schools teachers who are dismissed from a uni-denominational school for denominational reasons.
6. The Denominational Education Councils will be replaced by a single inter-denominational body with primary responsibility for religious education.
7. A School Construction Board will be established, with responsibility for approving proposals for school construction or major renovation, based on province-wide priorities.
8. School boards will continue to have primary responsibility for delivery of education programs and services within their regions. However, parents will be given more say in the operation of schools through the formation of school councils.
9. The performance of all schools will be reviewed periodically by an external assessment body which will report to the public.
10. The confidentiality of student files will be protected, and the rights of parents (and students of majority age) of access to files and interpretation of information in files will be assured.
11. Explicit rules, including appeal rights, will be established for the suspension and/or expulsion of students from school.
12. It is the intent of government that the school year will consist of 195 days, an increase of five days from the current year. A total of 185 days have been defined as instructional, which will require activities within the prescribed curriculum. Days lost due to weather or other causes will be made up within the school year.
13. The intent of this legislation is to increase the school day from a minimum of five hours to a minimum of 5 1/2 hours for all except primary school students. For students in grades 1 to 3 the day has been increased from a minimum of four to a minimum of five hours.
14. Provisions have been made for the establishment of Francophone and Aboriginal schools and for alternative schools of a specialized nature where numbers warrant and demand exists.
15. Provisions have been made for the establishment of private schools and for home schooling.

Premier Wells says the legislation will be introduced in the House of Assembly when it resumes sitting later this month. Government has agreed with the NLTA not to bring the provision relating to the length of the school year or the length of the school day, and the provision relating to term appointments for school principals, before the legislature until there has been adequate time to conduct collective bargaining with the NLTA.

Contact: Judy M. Foote, (709) 729-3570.