Education Law - Social Service Workers (PDF)

Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition CHAPTER 8 Education Law Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition...

Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition CHAPTER 8 Education Law Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 2 Introduction Ontario statutes that govern education include: Education Act and its “safe schools” amendments; and Education Quality and Accountability Office Act. The duty to report suspected child abuse or neglect is important to anyone working in schools. Education Act and the regulations made under it set out the legal framework for the education of Ontario children. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 3 Public and Private School Systems Creates a framework for the administration of public education in Ontario. The Ontario public school system is divided into two streams: 1. Secular public schools; and 2. Catholic schools. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 4 The Education Act Under the Education Act, all children must: Attend school at the age of six; and Attend school or an equivalent learning program approved by the Ministry of Education until the age of 18. Students who turn 18 after the beginning of the school year, but prior to December 31, can leave school prior to the commencement of that school year. Students between 12 and 15 years old who miss school regularly can be charged with truancy: Penalties can include a fine or the possibility of a probation order. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 5 Youth Who Are Not Living at Home If the youth has legally withdrawn from their parents and still lives in the same school district as their parents, they can attend the school in that district. If the youth no longer lives in the same district as their parents, they can attend school in another district as long as they are paying rent in that school district. If someone other than the youth’s parents has obtained legal custody of them, they can attend a school in the district where the person who has legal custody of them lives. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 6 Safety February 2008: After consultations with all parties, the safe schools policies were revised and came into effect. Bill 212—Education Amendment Act (Progressive Discipline and School Safety), 2007—provided a series of changes when dealing with behaviours at school: Some suspensions are no longer mandatory; Teachers can no longer suspend students; and Principals on their own can no longer expel students. Act changed to focus on a range of consequences for unacceptable behaviour and to require boards to provide support for students. Act stipulates that the unacceptable activity doesn’t have to take place inside the school. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 7 Bullying and Cyberbullying Ontario: Accepting Schools Act, 2012 developed in response to the growing concern about bullying and related suicides: Came into force September 2012. Cyberbullying is defined as bullying by electronic means and may include the following: Creating a web page or a blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person; Impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the Internet; and/or Communicating material electronically to more than one individual or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals. Schools must provide instruction for students on bullying prevention and programs for teachers about bullying prevention strategies. School boards must establish bullying prevention plans for schools. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 8 Funding for Autism September 2020: announced that families in Ontario who are in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) would be provided with “foundational family services.” Services available to those who are eligible, even if the child or youth is on a waitlist, is receiving a one-time reimbursement or childhood budget, or has an existing OAP behaviour plan. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.  Law and Legislation for Social Service Workers, Third Edition 9 The Education Quality and Accountability Office The EQAO tests students in grades 3, 6, 9, and 10 to assess levels of literacy and competence in mathematics. Promoted as a means to ensure government accountability. Some parents believe that the intensive testing is stressful for children and that it has limited value in identifying specific problems. Copyright © 2022 Emond Montgomery Publications. All rights reserved.