People for Education is a unique organization in Canada: independent, non-partisan, and fueled 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.
A strong, equitable and prosperous Canada where universal public education
fulfills its role as a cornerstone of our society.
Our mission
To strengthen a universal public education system that graduates all young people with the skills and competencies they need to contribute to a fair and prosperous society, and to live happy, healthy, economically secure, civically engaged lives.
Strategic priorities
People for Education will:
Instigate a dialogue, both in Ontario and nationally, about the purpose, value, and future of public education.
Build links among key constituencies, both inside and outside the education sector in Ontario, to enhance a shared understanding of goals for public education.
Provide evidence and use research to advance public education’s promise, and to ensure that all young people have an equitable chance for long-term success.
Our approach
Research and evidence
Policy analysis and recommendations
Communications
Convening and engagement
Our values
People for Education is
evidence-based.
Our work and perspectives are informed by rigorous research, and we look beyond our borders to learn from leading practices that will enhance public education policy.
People for Education is
independent.
We strive to do what is best for public education, and we operate independent of all political and bureaucratic constituencies.
People for Education is
inclusive and open.
We stand for universally accessible public education, we advocate for equity, we share what we are learning, and we engage a wide spectrum of stakeholders and points of view.
Strategic plan 2017-2020
In order to move our work forward, People for Education’s strategic plan outlines the long-term goals within each of our strategic priorities, key approaches to achieving those goals, and our objectives for the next three years.
Strategic
priority #1
People for Education will foster dialogue in Ontario and nationally about the purpose, value, and future of universal public education.
LONG TERM GOALS
KEY APPROACHES
3 YEAR OBJECTIVES
Canadians link the success of the country with the strength of public education.
New generations have the skills to innovate, adapt, imagine, and solve complex global problems.
Research and evidence
Policy analysis and Recommendations
Communications (media strategy, thought leaders)
Convening and engagement (partnerships)
The public, policy-makers, the media, and education stakeholders have access to a strong, evidence-based case articulating the purpose and value of public education.
Key influencers in Canada – both inside and outside government – are including public education as a core element of emerging strategies for Canada’s success.
Strategic
priority #2
People for Education will build links among key constituencies, both inside and outside the education sector in Ontario, to enhance a shared understanding of goals for public education.
LONG TERM GOALS
KEY APPROACHES
3 YEAR OBJECTIVES
Government policy for children and youth is strengthened, and more consistently applied across departments.
Organizations working on social policy see the connections between their work and public education.
Employment stakeholders see the value and importance of public education in developing employment skills and building the workforce.
Education, from early childhood through post-secondary, has common goals and language.
Research and evidence
Policy analysis and recommendations (Government relations)
Convening and engagement (partnerships, multi-sector tables, employer involvement)
Ontario has made demonstrable progress toward integration of policies related to the alignment of skills, competencies, and goals in K-12 and post-secondary education; and the alignment of education and workforce policy in relation to skills and competencies.
There are active, ongoing multi-sector collaborations in Ontario and nationally (including corporate, labour, colleges, universities, civil society organizations), focused on the competencies and skills young people require for long-term success.
There is an informal national network of “non-state actors” (non-profits and foundations) learning from each other and focusing on developing synergy in their work to support positive outcomes for children and youth.
Organizations such as UNESCO, Unicef, and the Canadian Index of Well-being are using education outcomes beyond the 3 Rs in their public reporting.
Strategic
priority #3
People for Education will provide evidence and use research to advance public education’s promise, and to ensure that all young people have an equitable chance for long-term success.
LONG TERM GOALS
KEY APPROACHES
3 YEAR OBJECTIVES
Students have the broad competencies they need to be happy, healthy, economically secure, and civically engaged.
Young people have an equitable chance for long-term success.
Canada has new generations with the skills to innovate, adapt, imagine, and solve complex global problems.
Research and evidence
Policy analysis and recommendations
Convening and engagement (advocates representing many stakeholder groups and multiple sectors)
Measures of success in education that reflect broad outcomes
There are more informal connections between organizations to share learning, cooperate on
projects, shine a light on innovative work in education, and advances are being made across
the country with respect to equity.
In Ontario, the EQAO is beginning – in cooperation with People for Education – to measure (through sampling) some of the competencies in MWM.
There have been public consultations on census-based standardized testing.
Education stakeholders in Ontario are starting to use the MWM competencies, including introducing them into on-the-ground practice, as well as ongoing curriculum revisions.
There is progress in Ontario towards policies that support equity.
Parents, students, community members, researchers, teachers, and other stakeholders have access to up-to-date data, reports and evidence to support advocacy around resources and policy for things such as the arts, special education, health programs in schools.
Non-government organizations in other provinces are beginning to explore the People for Education model.
Our approach
People for Education works in four highly inter-related areas. While the focus of our research, policy analysis, convening, and communications is in Ontario, People for Education engages nationally and internationally to share what we are learning, to learn from others, and to engage in the growing international conversation about the purpose and value of public education.
Research and evidence
Producing rigorous, publicly available research.
Ensuring we are a trusted source of information and knowledge.
Building partnerships with research groups.
Consulting widely in the development of our research agenda.
Communicating research findings in ways that are accessible to a broad audience.
Maintaining an accessible multi-year database of programs and resources in Ontario public schools.
Looking for trends, and identifying emerging issues.
Policy analysis and recommendations
Informing policy discussions with research.
Developing – or partnering to develop – policy recommendations that result from our research agenda.
Building partnerships with policy analysis groups.
Communications
Identifying and spotlighting key issues that affect public education.
Framing complex ideas about public education and presenting them in ways that are easily understood.
Producing information that is trusted.
Making information about policy and education research available and accessible to others through various channels.
Using multiple channels to communicate to stakeholders, partners and the public.
Doing the above within the framework of a comprehensive communications plan.
Convening and engagement
Convening education stakeholders – sometimes around single ideas, and sometimes as part of formal processes.
Creating space, establishing venues, and providing tools to gather and analyze knowledge about public education.
Cooperating with other national and international education organizations – within and outside government.
Ensuring that diverse voices are brought to the table and heard.
