Educational Resources

Source: The Métis Nation of Ontario
Focus: Educators

Summary: A Métis Education Action Plan will lead to a coordinated, focused and strategic approach by the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), in collaboration with other agencies, education partners, and parents to address the needs of Métis learners. The MNO is looking to an engaged Métis student in every publicly funded school in Ontario and is committed to the provision of an improved and appropriate education for all of its students that will be a sustainable effort over time.

LONG TERM GOALS:

• Improved Métis student attendance, retention and graduation rates
• Improved Métis student achievement K-12
• Improved Métis student well being
• Engaged parent and community partners in Métis student education and increased parent satisfaction with their children’s education.

Three objectives represent Phase I of an ongoing commitment to Métis student education.

Objective #1

To increase the attention to better Métis education in the Ontario education system:

(a) the development and implementation of a robust education action plan including key messages and strategies that speak to an active and contributing MNO role in policies and programs that will contribute to Métis student success;

(b) active participation and contributions to ongoing work with key partners in the education of Métis students through the inclusion of qualified Métis candidates on decision-making bodies at all levels of the education system and;

(c) identifying roles and responsibilities that will be needed to begin effective implementation of the Métis Education Action Plan in the 2008-09 year.

Objective #2

To build capacity for evidence-based decision-making:

(a) support and facilitate the strategy to establish self-identification for all Métis students in Ontario

(b) initiate dialogue with key partners in education regarding the development and implementation of tracking mechanisms that align with existing provincial student identification tracking systems to address and facilitate transitions for both “mobile” students and students moving through the levels of the system and;

(c) contribute to an annual symposium on the topic of Aboriginal student achievement with a Métis component based on data within a successes, challenges and opportunities context.

Objective #3

To develop a Community Outreach parent engagement process that supports improved Métis student achievement:

(a) develop and communicate a strategy including key messages for community outreach and parent engagement at all levels of education beginning with internal organizational input and implementation;

(b) build on those strategies that speak to the engagement of Métis parents and the community identifying the resources that will be needed in support of an overall strategy and;

(c) look to deepen understandings and approaches of board and school improvement plans K-12 that address community outreach and parent engagement goals in pursuit of improved Métis student achievement.