Ontario announces new education policy changes for 2026-27

Ontario students returned to school on Tuesday as several provincial education policy changes took effect for the 20262027 year. The updates include mandatory final written exams for most high school courses, with exam weightings set at 20 per cent in Grades 9 and 10 and 25 per cent in Grades 11 and 12 for core subjects. Attendance and participation will also count toward final marks, and the province says some absences will reduce that portion of a grade. High school students must now pass a financial literacy assessment to graduate, with the curriculum covering budgeting, credit, saving, interest rates and consumer awareness. Ontario has also expanded student and family support offices to all school boards and introduced a revised kindergarten curriculum that adds more structured learning in reading, writing, math and science.