The College at a Glance
Our Mandate
The College regulates and governs the teaching profession in Ontario in the best interests of the public. It does this by:
- setting ethical standards and standards of practice
- issuing teaching certificates, which it may suspend or revoke
- accrediting teacher education programs and courses
- investigating and hearing complaints about individual members.
It is also mandated to communicate with the public on behalf of the profession. This annual report is one example of that communication. The College’s website is another.
In the Public Interest
The College has a duty to serve and protect the public interest. College policies and initiatives are developed to maintain and improve excellence in teaching. The College is accountable for how it carries out its responsibilities. Ethical standards and standards of practice for the teaching profession highlight the public interest.
In the interest of transparency, the public can view a register of all College members on our website, which includes their qualifications and credentials. Disciplinary hearings are open to the public. A summary of each disciplinary hearing and its outcome is published in the College magazine and on our website.
How We Are Governed
The College is governed by a Council that meets a minimum of four times a year to set direction, recommend regulatory changes, and develop and approve policies and procedures directly related to the objects and mandate of the College.
Changes to the College’s governance structure are in the works. In 2018, the Governance Committee undertook an independent review of College governance, focusing on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of key governance practices and structures.
The Governance Committee provided advice to Council, which made recommendations to the province.
In April 2019, the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act passed into law and introduced amendments to the College’s Act, including a number of the recommendations proposed by Council. Other recommendations, including a process that may involve the election, selection (or sortition — a hybrid model) of Council Members and the ability to appoint non-Council members to serve on statutory committees are not yet possible and will require further legislative amendments.
The Governance Committee is seeking to provide advice to the government and is preparing to act when such changes are introduced.
Based on the Committee’s recommendation, Council approved that the requested selection method for Council members would be a sortition process.
Our Members – Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs)
Who are our members? Teachers, consultants, vice-principals, principals, supervisory officers, directors of education and those working in non-school board positions must all be certified by the College to work in Ontario’s publicly funded schools and school systems. Our members work in faculties of education, the Ministry of Education, teachers’ federations, the College and independent schools. They also work in many other institutions that provide educational opportunities for teachers and their students in Ontario, other parts of Canada and around the world. The College membership reached 234,053 in 2019.
Our Services
The College offers OCTs and the public a wide range of resources about teaching and education on its website, through the Margaret Wilson Library and in our quarterly magazine, Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession. Government agencies, consulates, international organizations and advocacy groups, as well as other Canadian provinces, increasingly draw on College expertise about teacher certification, international credentials and assessment, and the status of teacher education. Standard correspondence at the College reflects, wherever possible, gender-neutral language. Providing members with the ability to self-identify supports our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and respect when communicating with applicants, College members and the public within diverse communities.
Our Education Stakeholders
The strength of Ontario’s education system is the breadth and depth of the expertise contributed by individuals and organizations that work together to support student achievement. Parent groups, trustees and government agencies work with teachers and administrators, faculties of education, teachers’ federations and professional associations to identify issues and develop solutions. Whether developing standards of practice for OCTs or a response to government policy initiatives, we consult with education stakeholders as an integral part of addressing issues and opportunities facing the teaching profession.