Safer schools center of legislative ammendments

News Release
Ont. Govt.

QUEEN’S PARK, June 5 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government’s amendments to the safe schools provisions of the Education Act will strike a balance between more effectively combining discipline with opportunities for students to continue their education, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced last night.
“I am proud of this piece of progressive and effective legislation that will address the concerns we have heard,” said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne following its passage in the Legislature. “These changes show that we are listening to the people of Ontario, and demonstrate our government’s determination to address the tougher issues and make our schools safer places for students to learn.”
Bill 212, the Education Amendment Act (Progressive Discipline and School Safety), 2007, amends sections of the Education Act and replaces them with new provisions related to the suspension and expulsion of pupils.
Highlights include:
-Adding bullying to the list of infractions for which suspension must be considered
-Supporting a progressive discipline approach to choose the appropriate course of action in the case of inappropriate behaviour.
-Replacing mandatory suspensions and expulsions for students (except in limited circumstances) with the requirement that principals and school boards respond to all infractions that occurred in the most appropriate way
-Requiring that mitigating factors be considered before students are suspended or expelled
-Clarifying decision-making authority for principals to suspend and school boards to expel students.
To support the changes, the government has allocated $31 million annually, beginning in 2007-2008, to make Ontario’s schools safer. Thisincludes $23 million for programs and supports to address inappropriate behaviour and programs for all expelled students and students serving long-term suspensions. Training will be provided to principals and vice-principals on changes to the act and ways to apply discipline in a non-discriminatory manner. The bill will come into effect February 1, 2008 to provide school boards with time to put programs in place to fully implement the requirements of the new legislation.
The Safe Schools Action Team, led by Liz Sandals, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education held extensive consultations around the province.
The team heard from 700 parents, students, community members and educators who shared their experience and expertise, resulting in fair, progressivelegislation that was passed unanimously.
“The changes offer a better, fairer, more equitable approach to ensuring safety in our schools,” said Sandals. “Through our consultations we heard that there was a lack of focus on prevention - as well as serious discrepancies in consistency, fairness and methods of discipline when it came to the application of the act. The changes to the legislation will help address these failings.”

partnership with Kids Help Phone to
provide more resources for bullying and cyber-bullying prevention
support
- $6 million for model projects to promote positive behaviour
- $7.8 million for bullying-prevention programs/resources for schools
and boards
- $4.5 million for bullying-prevention training for up to 25,000
teachers
- $1.2 million for bullying-prevention training for approximately 7,500
principals and vice-principals
- $3.2 million for security access devices for schools as part of a
Safe Welcome Program to help staff better monitor school visitors and
limit points of access into schools
- $3 million through the OESC Special Circumstances Bullying and
Violence Prevention Fund for schools facing additional challenges

“The McGuinty government believes that all students and staff in Ontario
schools have the right to feel safe at school and on school grounds,” said
Wynne. “Our government is committed to making schools safe in this province to
help ensure that all our students can achieve their full potential.”