September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned from the residential school system, as well as its survivors, their communities and the families who continue to live with the enduring trauma.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day. The orange shirt is a symbol of the forced assimilation of Indigenous children and a reminder that every child matters. This day is inspired by the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose clothing – including a new orange shirt – was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling. Her clothing was never returned.

The establishment of a National Day for Truth & Reconciliation is a response to the 94 calls to action issued by the final report of Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

Genuine truth and reconciliation are vital to the country’s future, and the College is deeply committed to doing what we can to support the implementation of other calls to action in the spirit of peace, friendship and mutual respect.

Click below to learn more about Indigenous cultures, histories and the ongoing impacts of residential schools.

You’re invited to our Annual Meeting of Members on October 23

The College’s Annual Meeting of Members will be held on Wednesday October 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The online meeting is open to College members, applicants, interested education partners, and members of the public. College leadership, including Registrar & CEO Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, and Council Chair Diana Miles will provide updates on how College operations serve the public interest by protecting the safety and well-being of Ontario students.

The meeting will be hosted on Zoom with simultaneous French and English interpretation and optional closed captioning. The meeting will conclude with a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance when you fill out your registration form. Registrants will receive a Zoom link one week before the meeting.

Focus on Teaching: A survey of Ontario Certified Teachers

The College’s second Focus on Teaching survey is being distributed to all Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs) this month to better understand their experiences in the teaching profession.

A key goal of Focus on Teaching is to maintain a database of teacher employment trends and professional experiences. This information is helpful to many decision-makers in Ontario’s publicly funded education system, including school boards responsible for forecasting hiring needs and individual teachers who are looking for career opportunities. 

Input from participants will help in:

• Help address the teacher shortage in Ontario's schools
• Support equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession
• Enhance career opportunities for OCTs
• Continue to track the professional experiences of OCTs

Focus group insights from OCTs

To create a survey that truly reflects the profession, we gathered diverse insights from OCTs through focus groups held over the summer. These discussions highlighted three key themes expressed by OCTs:

• The impactful role of teachers
• Concerns about the perceived decline of the teaching profession’s status and impact
• A strong desire for meaningful change.

A report of survey findings will be made publicly available on the College website in 2025.

Professional standards for Ontario teachers

For almost 25 years, the Ethical Standards and the Standards of Practice have provided the foundation and guiding principles for Ontario Certified Teachers.

The College is revising the Ethical Standards and the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession. 

These are the core elements of the current Ethical Standards and Standards of Practice:

Ethical Standards

• Care
• Trust
• Integrity
• Respect

Standards of Practice

• Professional Knowledge
• Professional Practice
• Commitment to Students and Student Learning
• Ongoing Professional Learning
• Leadership in Learning Communities

In the upcoming months, the College will be inviting input from OCTs as we work to refresh our professional standards to reflect the changing landscape of the teaching profession in Ontario.

New certification requirement: Mathematics Proficiency Test

The Mathematics Proficiency Test (MPT) requirement was reinstated by the Ontario government last May as a requirement for certification with the Ontario College of Teachers.

As of February 1, 2025, Ontario graduates of a professional program of education in Ontario will be required to successfully complete the MPT.

Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs) who already hold a general Certificate of Qualification and Registration (CQR) prior to February 1, 2025, will not be required to pass the MPT.

More information about the MPT requirement is available on the College website.