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Professional Learning Program repealed | New Council member | New programs accredited | Investigations | Dispute Resolution Program | Discipline Panel Decisions |
Professional Learning Program to be repealedThe Minister of Education, Gerard Kennedy, has notified the College of Teachers that he will take steps in 2004 to revoke the Professional Learning Program (PLP). Chair of the College Council, Marilyn Laframboise, received official notice in a letter on December 19, 2003 in which Kennedy wrote that he would introduce legislation in the spring to repeal the program.
Kennedy added that he plans to work with education partners to develop a professional learning framework that "recognizes teachers' learning needs at each stage of their teaching career and supports them with programs and incentives to achieve ongoing teaching excellence for Ontario students." The new provincial government first indicated that there would be changes to the Professional Learning Program in the Throne Speech in November. In response to the Minister's letter, Laframboise said that it "makes his intentions clear about the future of the Professional Learning Program. "I know that our members will continue to pursue the professional learning they need to support student achievement. The College is looking forward to working with the provincial government to ensure that effective and high-quality learning opportunities are available to our members." In her reply to the minister, Laframboise wrote that the College has introduced an external hiring freeze and provided notice to temporary staff filling in for employees who are part of the PLP work unit. Laframboise also noted that the College had developed the Professional Learning Framework for the Teaching Profession. "This framework has been very well received by our education partners and we will be bringing it to the table in future discussions about professional learning," Laframboise wrote. The College's professional learning framework was developed following extensive consultation with its members and the public, and was endorsed by College Council in October 2000. The framework has become the cornerstone of professional learning development in Ontario. The College sent news of the minister's announcement the same day to
the more than 50,000 members who have signed up through the Members' Area
of the web site to receive the College's e-mail newsletter. Committee appointmentsAt its December meeting the Executive Committee appointed Ted Coulson to the Discipline Committee and Anne Vinet-Roy to the Discipline, the Fitness to Practise and the Accreditation committees. |