February 8, 2021

Subject: Temporary Certificate of Qualification and Registration

We are writing to inform you that on January 7, 2021, an amendment to Ontario Regulation 176/10 (Teachers’ Qualifications), under the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (OCTA), was filed to add a new Temporary Certificate of Qualification and Registration (temporary certificate), that may be granted by the Registrar of the Ontario College of Teachers (the College) and to set out the eligibility and application requirements.

Also, on January 7, 2021, an amendment to Regulation 298 (Operation of Schools – General) under the Education Act, was filed to add the new temporary certificate of qualification and registration for the purposes of assigning of teachers.

Both amendments came into force on January 30, 2021.

The new temporary certificate is intended to help provide temporary staffing stabilization in our schools. It gives teacher candidates who are enrolled in teacher education programs at Ontario faculties of education the opportunity to be employed as occasional teachers and complete required practicum days at the same time.

The College has put systems in place to prepare for eligible teacher candidates to apply for and be issued the new temporary certificate, effective January 31, 2021. To be eligible, teacher candidates must have already successfully completed a portion of their practicum, be progressing well in their academic program, and be on track to complete their teacher education program by December 31, 2021.

Each day of teaching on a temporary certificate will count as one day of practicum for the purposes of meeting the 80-day practicum requirement to complete a teacher education program in Ontario. The placement may be virtual or in-person and under the supervision of a school principal.

There will be no obligation for teacher candidates who hold a temporary certificate to apply for or accept daily or long-term occasional teaching opportunities. Teacher candidates who hold a temporary certificate would also be expected to consult with their faculty of education before accepting long-term occasional teaching positions as it is of the utmost importance that teacher candidates who are employed to teach on temporary certificates continue to successfully progress towards the completion of their teacher education program and graduate on time.

We are requesting that both faculties of education and school boards help to facilitate this approach by offering all the support necessary to teacher candidates, including regular communication between faculty staff and school board staff and accommodations for teacher candidates, where appropriate. Boards will continue to hire from their daily and long-term occasional teaching lists prior to hiring teacher candidates on a temporary certificate. When assigning the holders of temporary certificates to classrooms, a school principal’s primary consideration must always be the provision of the best possible program and the safety and well-being of students.

Individuals retained through the use of the temporary certificate will be represented by the appropriate Teacher Federation and covered under the Collective Agreement. School boards are encouraged to begin discussions as soon as possible with the local teachers’ federation affiliate(s) who represent occasional teachers to ensure that teacher candidates can start working in the classroom quickly and effectively, while respecting processes for existing occasional teachers.

This is an extremely important initiative that calls for a new type of collaboration between the College, faculties of education, teacher candidates, school boards, principals and vice-principals, and the teacher affiliates.

We are confident that, by working together, we can benefit students in schools across the province and provide valuable teaching experiences for our teacher candidates.

Sincerely,

Stephen Lecce Nancy Naylor

Minister Deputy Minister