July 6, 2020

The Coalition for Alternatives to Streaming in Education (CASE) welcomes the news that Minister Lecce is bringing forward a plan to end academic streaming in Grade 9. We believe this will contribute to a more equitable education system that promotes positive outcomes for all students.

The research on streaming is clear: students tracked into the applied stream have worse learning outcomes and postsecondary options than those of their academic peers. Just 33% of students who take applied math and language courses in Grade 9 make it directly to post-secondary education, compared to 73% of those in academic courses. Black, Indigenous, racialized, low-income and special needs students are significantly more likely to be streamed into applied or locally developed classes, and Ontario is the only province in Canada to begin this practice in Grade 9.

It is long past time to make evidence-based, provincial-level change to academic streaming. We look forward to reviewing more details about the plan’s implementation and we will continue to advocate for the necessary support, training and community engagement needed to make this transition successful across the province. The work to end systemic racism and discrimination in our school system does not stop here, but this is an important step toward a more just and equitable future for students in Ontario.