People for Education is a unique organization in Canada: independent, non-partisan, and fuelled by a belief in the power and promise of public education. We create evidence, instigate dialogue, and build links so that people can see — and act on — the connection between public education and a fair and prosperous society.
People For Education
Public education. Public good.
Education as a Human Right
Together with experts from across Canada and with the support of the Maytree Foundation, People for Education has drafted a Right to Education Framework that outlines 61 goals to address quality, access, accountability, and respect for learners from early learning to Kindergarten, to Grade 12.
And we want to hear from you!
Your voice is important. Read the Draft Framework and let us know what you think. The online survey on the right to education is open until May 31, 2021.
If you have other questions please read our backgrounder or email us at [email protected]
The Cost of Losing Extracurricular Activities
COVID-19’s impact on extracurricular activities leaves Ontario students without crucial opportunities for learning.
Extracurricular activities in Ontario schools and the fundraising that supports them, have plummeted because of COVID-19, leaving students without a crucial component of their learning. The impact is particularly hard on students from low-income families, because often school provided their only point of access to these vital experiences.
People for Education’s 2020/21 Annual Ontario School Survey shows that the vast majority of schools offered no clubs or extracurriculars at all – compared to more than 90% of schools last year.
The latest People for Education articles
Missing out – the visible and invisible loss of extracurricular activities
COVID-19’s impact on extracurricular activities leaves Ontario students without crucial opportunities for learning.
Defining a right to education in Canada
Every child in Canada has a right to education. But up to now the quality of that education has not been defined. People for Education is working to change that.
Education glaringly absent in Ontario’s 2021-22 budget
Education is not listed as a key priority in Ontario's 2021-22 provincial budget. There appears to be only minor funding to support school boards in dealing with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
Remote office
We continue with our virtual office in 2021. Our PFE team members will be glad to respond to inquiries promptly via email.
| Leadership: | Research: |
| Annie Kidder, Executive Director | Elyse K. Watkins, Senior Policy & Research Manager |
| Tracy Fawdry, Advancement Director | Kate Blair, Project Manager |
| Summer Cowley, Research Manager | |
| Asia Kotasinska, Research Coordinator | |
| Operations: | |
| Ruvani Ameresekere, Office & Operations Manager | Media inquiries: [email protected] |
| Danielle Wong, Administrative & Communications Coordinator |
Events: [email protected] |
The New Basics
Skills for success in our rapidly changing world
What skills do your kids need in their backpacks to thrive at school, at home, and in life?
What is important in education?
Supporting students’ mental health:
A collective responsibility
With student mental health needs on the rise, how can everyone share in the responsibility of supporting our students? 
We looked at in-school resources, the impact of geography, innovation in promoting school-wide mental health, and the costs of not addressing student mental health.
To find out what’s next and to see our recommendations, read our latest report on student mental health here.
Why public education?
We asked students, educators, parents, and researchers to answer the question "Why public education?"
Here is what they had to say...