The 2015 Annual Report

Key 2015 Accomplishments

“Ontarians can be particularly proud of the College’s work in 2015,” writes Michael Salvatori, CEO and Registrar, in the College’s 2015 Annual Report.

Among the key accomplishments for 2015: The College’s leadership role in helping to launch the Enhanced Teacher Education Program (ETEP), the issuing of professional advice on the duty to report, and the College’s continued work to support teachers as lifelong learners. An overview of these activities, messages from the Chair and the Registrar, reports from each of the College’s committees, a full financial report, and statistics about teachers in the province, are also included in the newly published report.

ETEP in Full Effect

Both the Registrar’s message and the Accreditation Committee report offer updates on the Enhanced Teacher Education Program (ETEP). As of September 1, 2015, the initial teacher education program at Ontario’s faculties of education resulted in fundamental changes in teacher preparation. It’s now a four-semester, B.Ed. program, including twice the amount of practice teaching time (80 days, an increase from 40).

Moreover, the curriculum reflects the challenges and realities of today’s classrooms. In addition to increased depth in core subjects such as mathematics, there’s greater focus on wellness and mental health, building relationships with students, parents and communities, and integrating technology into learning. (See our cover story.)

Working closely with Ontario’s faculties of education, the College created an Accreditation Resource Guide (oct-oeeo.ca/29JkCri) to support an understanding of new elements in the enhanced program.

Job Market Becoming More Welcoming

The report’s statistics section includes membership demographics, details about the volume and sources of teacher education, statistics about complaints, investigations and discipline, and more.

This year’s Transition to Teaching survey (oct-oeeo.ca/1RNDWqb), which looks at the early careers of new Ontario teachers, offered relatively positive news. After a decade of Ontario teacher employment market declines, job outcomes improved in 2015 for the second consecutive year.

The survey predicts the job market in the years ahead will be far more welcoming than what has confronted new teachers during much of the past decade, due to a reduced number of Ontario education grads, a rapid decline in out-of-province applicants for Ontario teaching licences and the teacher education reforms of 2015.

First-year unemployment in Ontario dropped to 23 per cent from 33 per cent in 2014, and from 41 per cent in 2013. Unemployment rates also fell significantly over the same time span for teachers in years two through five of their careers.

Altogether, these shifts suggest better times ahead for Ontario teachers.

Financial Highlights

The financial section of the report includes an independent auditor’s report, the balance sheet for the year, the statement of operations and members’ equity, a statement of cash flows and accompanying notes.

More than 4,800 members applied to the College before the Enhanced Teacher Education Program came into effect, bringing the total membership to 243,204 for the year, an increase of 3,848 over 2014.

For 2015, the College operating budget was set at $40,741,300. Through prudent management and a late-year surge in new member fee payments, the College recorded an operating surplus of $1,137,174.

To read the full report, including more financial details, statistics and highlights, visit oct-oeeo.ca/29CBDCK.