Parents, trustees speak out against cuts to schools in Toronto's higher-need communities | CBC News

"The TDSB announced last month that it expects to cut 289 teaching positions at elementary and secondary schools in the next academic year due to declining enrolment. The Elementary Teachers of Toronto said in an April 7 news release that those cuts would eliminate 145 elementary teachers in the Model Schools for Inner Cities program. The model schools program supports students impacted by extreme poverty with additional teaching staff, resources and extracurricular opportunities."

"School trustee Alexis Dawson said the community was angry and frustrated by the board's decision to take away from a program that serves "56,000 of the most vulnerable students in the TDSB." Dawson, along with parents and community members, called on Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Paul Calandra to continue funding model schools and to preserve critical staffing."

"The "model school" label is determined by the learning opportunities index (LOI), which ranks schools on the measure of external challenges affecting student success, according to the school board's website. There are 150 in the TDSB. The website states that the LOI was developed to ensure vulnerable students can have better access to school resources and to help allocate staff within the district."

"Model schools have helped reduce opportunity gaps, increase academic achievement and improve literacy and numeracy development, Dawson said. "This proves that higher need schools can achieve strong outcomes with the right supports and resources," she said."

The Toronto District School Board expects to cut 289 teaching positions in the next academic year due to declining enrolment. The Elementary Teachers of Toronto says the cuts would eliminate 145 elementary teachers in the Model Schools for Inner Cities program. The program provides additional teaching staff, resources, and extracurricular opportunities for students affected by extreme poverty. School trustee Alexis Dawson and community members oppose the decision, calling for Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Paul Calandra to continue funding model schools and protect critical staffing. The model school label is based on the learning opportunities index, which ranks schools by external challenges affecting student success. The board states the index helps allocate staff and improve access to resources. Dawson says model schools reduce opportunity gaps and improve academic achievement, literacy, and numeracy.

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