Background Information
- Independent Education in Ontario
978 registered independent schools in Ontario
126,000 students enrolled in independent schools in Ontario
20,000 students being home-schooled in Ontario
GRAND TOTAL - number of students in independent schools and home schools account for 6% of Ontario's total student population!
AMOUNT OF ANNUAL SAVINGS TO PROVINCE OF ONTARIO - $1.6 billion (the additional cost to the province if all of these students would suddenly require provincial schools and for which the province is obligated to provide)
*Even though the graduates of these schools go on to attend colleges & universities, get jobs and become responsible, productive citizens, they receive NO school support from the province for their education despite the clear obligation in Ontario's Education Act to provide for EVERY child's education!
OFIS is the fastest growing, MOST diverse independent school association in the province - providing support, resources & services to member schools from a variety of backgrounds: faith-based schools, culturally-based schools, alternative educational (pedagogical) schools, special needs schools, community-based schools, and arts & athletics schools
"One of the strongest investments that the Board of Directors authorized was to decide on ASCIS becoming a member-school of OFIS: ASCIS has benefited enormously from the workshops, courses, training sessions, etc. which OFIS offers to its member schools. Of special note were the Principal's Courses which both Mrs. Marcotte and Mrs. Kohuch followed: since these educators incorporated and shared the knowledge, expertise and skills that they received from OFIS with the ASCIS Staff, ASCIS solidified its organization and various systems. The Board of Directors and I applaud and thank the OFIS Officials!"
*Therese Gadoury - Directorice - Academie Ste Cecile Insternational School, Windsor, ON
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OFIS OFFICE HOURS -
Tuesdays To Fridays - 9am-4pm - email responses in up to 48 hours
Membership Updates!
Keeping Your Ontario Federation of Independent Schools Membership Current
13/14 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE -
**12/13 Membership Questions Should Be Directed To The OFIS Office**
*CLICK HERE! - To Get Details & Application Materials -
Follow Us!
Ontario Federation of Independent Schools OnLine
On Twitter! - CLICK HERE!
Coming Events & Opportunities -
Registration Now Open!
!!NEW!! - Help Us Plan Our Next PD Calendar - CLICK HERE to take our 1 minute survey!
*OFIS 12/13 PD Calendar Is NOW Available! - CLICK HERE!
*OFIS 12/13 - PD Registration Form Is NOW Available! - CLICK HERE!
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!!WEBINAR!! - "Protect Your School - Insurance Solutions" - Discover the common elements to include in a commercial insurance program. Provides highlights of the liability exposures facing schools in an increasingly litigious environment while examining the insurance solutions necessary to minimize risk. Further discussion will highlight what OFIS member schools typically purchase and how to budget.
45 minute presentation followed by 15 minutes Q&A
Thursday June 20 - 1 to 2pm - Click Here! To Register!
!!NEW PROGRAM!! - 13/14 School Year!
Instructional Excellence Modules For Independent School Teachers - Register For 1 Or All 6 - Mix And Match A Package For Your School!
CLICK HERE! - To Learn More About The Program
OFIS Members - $195/module or $795 for 6
NON Members - $295/module or $1195 for 6
Early-Bird Special - Until June 30 2013
OFIS Members - $145/module or $610 for 6
NON Members - $245/module or $1030 for 6
September 21 2013- Module 1 - Classroom Management - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
October 19 2013 - Module 2 - Assessment, Evaluation & Reporting - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
November 23 2013 - Module 3 - Course Of Study Design - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
January 18 2014 - Module 4 - Special Education - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
February 8 2014 - Module 5 - Communication Skills - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
March 29 2014 - Module 6 - Social Media In The Classroom - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Take Advantage Of Special Offers For OFIS Schools
- OFIS Sponsors - Products & Services Schools Need...
*Simon Phoenix Group - Your Database Management Specialists!
*My School Insurance - Your School & Personal Insurance Specialists!
*Our Kids Media - Your Print & Online Marketing Specialists!
*Social Catalyst - Your Online Marketing Specialists!
*Cognition LLP - Quality Legal Services At Prices Non-Profits Can Afford!
CLICK HERE - To Review OFIS Sponsors!
Noteworthy
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News & Issues Affecting Independent Schools...
*Click On Any Of These Stories To Read More!
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!!NEW!! - 05/08/13 - "TDSB Madness And The Need For School Choice" - Sun News Media - VIDEO - Michael Coren
"In the wake of Toronto school scandal where inappropriate material was posted in a school, Michael Coren speaks with Bob Bowden of Choice Media about the need for school choice.
04/18/13 - "Ontario Government Should Partner With Private Sector, Says New Report" - Ottawa Citizen - Matthew Pearson
" Ontario's public services must be restructured to allow the private and not-for-profit sectors to deliver key services such as low-risk medical procedures, employment training and some administrative functions, says a new report by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Certified General Accountants of Ontario.
04/16/13 - "TDSB Considers Muting Music Programs To Balance Budgets" - Globe & Mail - Education Reporter - Kate Hammer
"It's business as usual in private schools but public boards are tackling a nearly $30-million deficit, and staff suggested in a recent budget report that savings could be found by cutting back on the hours of instruction students get with itinerant music instructors, musicians who lead bands, string and steel pan groups for students in Grade 5 through 8.
03/27/13 - "With Vouchers, States Shift Aid For Schools To Families" - New York Times - Fernanda Santos & Motoko Rich
"A growing number of lawmakers across the country are taking steps to redefine public education, shifting the debate from the classroom to the pocketbook."
01/24/13 - "Even Athiests Should Thank God For Catholic Schools" - Waterloo Record - Peter Shawn Taylor
"Every parent ought to be given the same rights as Catholic parents have in selecting a school for their children. And everyone stands to benefit from such a situation, even if they stick with a public board."
01/15/13 - "Private Schools Seeing Increase In Interest" - CTV News - Video - Priah Mann - Featuring Barb Bierman, ED of OFIS
"Local private schools say they're seeing an uptick in interest as labour battles at public school boards drag on"
01/15/13 - "Business As Usual For Ontario's Private Schools" - News Release - Barb Bierman, ED of OFIS
"Threat of Lingering Labour Disruption in Ontario's Public Schools Boosts Inquiries And Tours In Private Schools"
01/12/13 - "The Time For Education Choice Is Now" - Hamilton Spectator - Bob VandeVrande
"To break the monopoly of teachers' unions, parents must be allowed to allocate their education dollars"
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*Archived Stories - 2012 In Review!
09/24/12 - "Freezing Teacher's Wages Not A Lasting Solution" - Canadian Business - Larry MacDonald
" If Ontarians really want to stop kicking the can down the road, a more substantive solution is required . The answer is to allow greater freedom of choice within the educational system, such as proposed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman"
02/25/12 - "How To Choose The Best Private School In Ontario For Your Child" - Toronto Star - Sharon Aschaiek
*Barb Bierman, ED of OFIS is quoted in this article
*Archived Stories - 2011 In Review!
10/12/11 - "Is Competition The Best Way To Ensure The Future Of Public Schools?" - Yahoo News - Steve Mertl
10/20/11 - "Politicians Can't Take Credit For High Marks" - York Region News - Debora Kelly
9/28/11 - "Private Schools Have The Toughest Accountability Partners - Parents" - Our Kids Media - Barb Bierman, OFIS Executive Director
9/25/11 - "Cracking Down On Credit Mills - What Are The Solutions?" - Toronto Star - Michelle Yang
9/16/11 - "Accusations About Independent School Credits Nothing More Than Fear‐Mongering To Boost Enrolment At Public Schools" - *Media Response to Toronto Star - Barb Bierman - OFIS - Executive Director
9/16/11 - "Cash For Marks Gets Kids Into University" - Star Investigation - Toronto Star - Robert Cribbs
3/28/11 - "There's A Reason It's Not Easy To Argue Against School Choice..." - Media Response to Toronto Star & Toronto Sun articles - Barb Bierman - OFIS - Executive Director
3/25/11 - "Saving Public Education - Too Many Choice" - Toronto Star
3/19/11 - "Breaking Up Our School System" - Toronto Sun
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*Archived Stories - 2010 in Review!
12/15/10 - "Government To Scrap Key Piece Of Full Day Kindergarten Plan" - Toronto Star
5/07/10 - OCSAA AGM KEYNOTE ADDRESS - "The Challenges Facing Independent Schools" - Barb Bierman, ED - OFIS
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*Archived Stories - 2009 in Review!
11/5/09 - Full Day Kindergarten - Impact on Independent Schools? Ontario - *click here to see the whole interview
10/21/09 - TDSB First To Hire Marketing Director To Lure Students Away From Independent Schools - read the article
10/21/09 - An All Boys Public School In Toronto - What Will They Think Of Next? - read the article
8/11/09 - CBC News - Private School Grades To Be "Flagged" In Ontario - read the article
8/20/09 - ISAO/OFIS News Release - Education Minister's "Scarlet Letter" For Independent Schools Indicts Her Own Government - read the release
6/16/09 - OFIS NEWS RELEASE - Ontario's New Education Plan Takes Parents Out Of The Equation
5/10/09 - Wondering About H1N1 And Your School?
4/8/09 - OFIS NEWS RELEASE - OFIS Responds To Ministry of Education Charge That Private Schools Give "Easy A's"
3/26/09 - OFIS AGM KEYNOTE ADDRESS - "The Perfect Storm Of Education" - Barb Bierman, ED
