The document summarizes information about the Canadian Educational Resources Council (CERC) and issues around learning resources in Ontario. CERC represents educational resource companies that develop textbooks and digital learning tools for Ontario students. While some subjects like math have good resources, data shows only 10% of elementary students have approved science learning resources despite a new curriculum being introduced in 2008. Spending on learning resources in Ontario has declined over 40% since 2006 and is the lowest per student of any province. This lack of funding means fewer updated materials for teachers and students.

1. People for Education
Annual Conference
November 3, 2012

2. Who We Are
AIM Language Chenelière Education McGraw-Hill Ryerson Scholastic Education
Learning Montreal, QC Ltd Markham, ON
Bowen Island, BC Whitby, ON
Nelson Education Oxford University Pearson Education
Scarborough, ON Press Canada
Don Mills, ON Don Mills ON
2

3. CERC: Who We Are
• The member companies of the Canadian Educational Resources Council (CERC) have a proven
track record of building powerful teaching and learning tools for public education in Ontario
• Members create resources that help teachers and students reach their full potential, such as
textbooks, e-books and a wide range of comprehensive and supplemental digital resources
• CERC resources are made in Canada for Canadians - they reflect Canadian culture and values,
both in English and French
• Members create, shape, and parse content, and link it to Ontario’s curriculum
• Ontario students deserve and need to have access to world-class teaching and learning
tools
• CERC wants to help create an environment in which Ontario educators and their students
are equipped with a new generation of resources, and resource developers are encouraged
to invest in and develop such resources.
3

4. Resources Support Student Learning
• A strong quantitative indicator of curriculum implementation is the purchase of approved
learning resources, the majority of which are developed by CERC members
• Since 2006 spending on these resources in Ontario has declined by over 40%
4

5. Are Ontario Students Being
Short-Changed?
• Based on CERC sales data, we know that certain subject areas are being well implemented
while others are not
• Elementary math and science demonstrate the uneven implementation of new curriculum
Elementary Math Curriculum Implementation
• The new elementary math curriculum was introduced in 2005
• CERC sales data indicate that after 7 years of implementation 65% of elementary students
have approved math learning resources
Elementary Science Curriculum Implementation
• The new elementary science curriculum was introduced in 2008
• CERC sales data indicate that after 4 years of implementation only 10% of elementary
students have approved science learning resources
5

6. Spending by School Boards on Learning
Resources In Ontario
140,000,000
Year End Funding
120,000,000
100,000,000
80,000,000
60,000,000
40,000,000
20,000,000
0
98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
6

7. Spending by School Boards on Learning
Resources In Ontario
7

8. Learning Resources: The Neglected Component
Decreased Funding:
• In 2009 -10, Government made a $25 million permanent cut in the learning resource funding
line in the Foundation Grant
Decreased Purchases:
• Since 2006, Ontario system spending on learning resources has declined by over 40%
• In that same period, spending on learning resources in Ontario has experienced the sharpest
decline as compared to all other provinces.
• Ontario is the only province that spends less per-student for learning resources than it did
in 1998.
Result:
• This means that there are fewer up-to-date learning materials in the hands of Ontario
teachers and students than there should be.
8

9. Per-Pupil Spending in Canada:
Ontario is at the Back of the Class