Ontario court upholds mandatory math test for new teachers
![classroom Ontario's top court has upheld the validity of a mandatory math test for new teachers. A classroom is seen during a media tour of an elementary school in Vancouver on September 2, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/11/28/classroom-1-6664190-1701194327756.jpg)
Ontario's top court has upheld the validity of a mandatory math test for new teachers, saying that a lower court decision declaring it unconstitutional was based on preliminary and incomplete data.
Premier Doug Ford's government introduced the test in 2021 as part of an effort -- including a new curriculum -- to improve students' scores on standardized math tests.
Results from the test up to July of that year showed significant disparities in success rates of standardized testing based on race, with white teacher candidates passing at a higher rate than racialized candidates. The Divisional Court struck the test down largely on that basis, finding that because it had a disproportionate impact on racialized teachers, it infringed on equality provisions in the Charter.
The Ontario government fought that ruling and the Appeal Court sided Tuesday with the province.
When looking at the test rates up to the end of 2021, the gap was much smaller because by then teacher candidates had the opportunity to rewrite the test. Teacher candidates are allowed an unlimited number of attempts to pass it.
At the end of 2021, 95 per cent of the 8,350 teacher candidates who had written the test one or more times were successful, including 93 per cent of candidates from racialized groups, the court wrote in its decision released Tuesday.
"The respondents' argument that the adverse impact of the (Math Proficiency Test) on entry to the teaching profession should be measured on the basis of the results from first attempts of the MPT as opposed to multiple attempts is misplaced," the court wrote.
"Teacher candidates who do not succeed on their first attempt but are successful on a subsequent attempt are not barred from entry to the profession. Thus, with respect, there is an unsupported leap in logic from the observation that there are disparities in success rates on first attempts at the MPT to the conclusion that this demonstrates an adverse impact on entry to the teaching profession."
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said he is pleased with the decision.
"Ontario's grade nine math standard was introduced to assure parents that those responsible for educating students have the fundamental math skills they need to help students graduate," he wrote in a statement.
Teachers' unions objected to the test being applied broadly to all teachers, questioning why a kindergarten teacher needed to be tested on secondary school math concepts or why an art teacher needed to pass a math test. The court noted that all certified teachers in Ontario may be assigned to teach math to students in Grade 6 or below and in some cases they can be assigned to teach Grade 7 to 12 math.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2023
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6971940.1721563747!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Secret Service chief noted a 'zero fail mission.' After Trump rally, she's facing calls to resign
When Kimberly Cheatle led the Secret Service's operations to safeguard the American president and other dignitaries, she said she would talk to agents in training about the 'awesome responsibility' of their job.
Workplace habit of 'coffee badging' prompts reported new policy at Amazon
The term 'coffee badging' has gained some new significance this week with multiple outlets reporting Amazon is allegedly taking measures to counter the workplace trend it refers to.
NEW THIS MORNING How to protect yourself from West Nile virus
It's been a hot, humid and wet summer so far in Ottawa, making it the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and elevating the risk of West Nile virus.
Hazmat response to north London, Ont. apartment complex
Circumstances around a deceased individual in an apartment raise concerns for first responders.
Russia says it scrambled fighter jets to intercept U.S. bomber planes over Barents Sea
Russia said Sunday it scrambled fighter jets to intercept two U.S. military long-range bomber aircraft that approached the Russian border over the Barents Sea in the Arctic.
Meet some of the world's cleanest pigs, raised to grow kidneys and hearts for humans
The first gene-edited pig organs ever transplanted into people came from animals born on this special research farm in the Blue Ridge mountains..
Canadian musicians struggle to get visas to perform in the U.S., some cancel shows
Backlogs and processing delays of temporary U.S. visas required by entertainers, athletes and artists has forced some Canadian bands to cancel U.S. tour dates because paperwork wasn't processed in time.
'I took a bullet for democracy': Trump holds first rally after assassination attempt
Donald Trump is holding his first campaign rally since he survived an attempted assassination, returning to the battleground state of Michigan alongside his new running mate.
‘It looks scary, but they’re harmless’: Bees removed from Winnipeg street light
A swarm of bees living in a lamppost in Winnipeg’s Sage Creek neighbourhood has found a new home for its hive.