Independent Schools Treated Like School Boards
Currently in our education system, we have 27 school boards. They are defined as local authorities under The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP). Under LA FOIP, they are obligated to provide records to parents and citizens. Of course, there are exemptions which they can claim to justify withholding certain records. They are also obligated to protect personal information of students, parents and teachers. There are rules around collecting, using and disclosing personal information.
We now also have 64 independent schools, which are licenced by the Ministry of Education. Many of these independent schools receive government funds: some as much as 80% of what a school board would receive for a student. These independent schools are not local authorities under LA FOIP. They do not have the same obligation as a school board. I believe students, parents and teachers in independent schools are entitled to the same protection as those involved with regulated school boards. Thus, I have written the Minister of Education requesting that he consider making independent schools, local authorities under LA FOIP. This would put independent schools on the same legal framework as school boards. You can see my letter to the Minister here.