Bill 98 explained in plain English

Bill 98 amends Ontario education and child care laws to strengthen student achievement oversight, introduce apprenticeship learning options, establish board member conduct processes, and increase government control over school property and curriculum matters.

Bill 98, the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023, is an Ontario law that amends several acts related to education and child care. The bill focuses on improving student achievement, curriculum standards, and oversight in Ontario's kindergarten to grade 12 education system. The bill makes three main sets of amendments: **Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007:** The changes allow the Complaints Committee to require early childhood educators to complete continuing education or remediation programs. They also establish new procedures for handling complaints when an educator has been convicted of a criminal offence related to the complaint. The Registrar (instead of employers) becomes the complainant when an employer files a report. The bill also changes funding eligibility criteria for children who were subject to sexual abuse by allowing funds if the educator's practice facilitated their relationship or access, rather than requiring proof of supervision. **Education Act:** This is the largest set of changes and includes: - New definitions and French language updates related to special education - Introduction of "equivalent apprenticeship learning" as a form of education where students participate in apprenticeship programs - Minister's new powers to set policies on curriculum review, board member training, and student mental health - Requirements for school boards to develop multi-year plans aligned with provincial student achievement priorities - School boards must adopt codes of conduct for board members and establish integrity commissioner processes to investigate alleged breaches - New rules governing school property sales, leases, and dispositions, giving the Minister more oversight - Requirements for boards to provide information about school sites and property plans - Requirements for boards to collaborate with municipalities on child care centres in schools **Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996:** Changes to how complaints against teachers are handled, similar to those for early childhood educators. New requirements for teacher education programs to include curriculum knowledge, particularly in math, reading, and literacy. The Registrar can now revoke suspended teaching certificates if the suspension lasts more than three years (or a shorter period set by regulation). Teachers must complete sexual abuse prevention programs before their certificates can be re-issued. All amendments came into force on June 8, 2023 (Royal Assent), except for some Education Act provisions which come into force on a date to be named by proclamation.