Ontario Launches Revamped Kindergarten Curriculum for 2026

Ontario has unveiled a new kindergarten curriculum, set to be implemented in the 2026-27 school year, emphasizing a “back to basics” approach. This initiative, first announced in 2024 and subsequently delayed, aims to enhance direct instruction while maintaining aspects of the internationally recognized play-based learning model. Educators have expressed the need for adequate training before the curriculum goes into effect.

The overhaul of the kindergarten curriculum comes in response to a critical report from the Ontario Human Rights Commission released in 2022. The report highlighted the province’s shortcomings in literacy education, particularly for students with learning disabilities. As part of the new curriculum, students will be introduced to basic coding and engineering, alongside a shift towards phonics in reading. These changes aim to provide a smoother transition into Grade 1, aligning the kindergarten learning experience more closely with early elementary education.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has voiced concerns regarding the rollout of the new curriculum. According to David Mastin, president of ETFO, teachers require “high-quality, comprehensive, job-embedded professional learning” and adequate time to adapt to the changes. He asserted that without meaningful training and support, educators would struggle to effectively implement the new curriculum, potentially compromising student learning outcomes.

In a memo released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the current curriculum, implemented in 2016, will be replaced by this new framework. The memo emphasized that the intention behind announcing the curriculum now is to allow educators ample time to familiarize themselves with the new content prior to its implementation.

The updated curriculum will employ age-appropriate, evidence-based teaching methods, focusing on a student-centered approach that equips children with essential knowledge and skills for their future education. Notably, it will include systematic and explicit instruction in reading, as well as enhanced learning opportunities in mathematics, science, and technology.

Despite these changes, the ministry assured that the key features of Ontario’s full-day kindergarten program would remain intact, including play-based learning facilitated by both teachers and early childhood educators. Additionally, report card templates will be revised to better reflect the new curriculum standards.

Starting in February, the province plans to offer monthly webinars to assist educators in transitioning to the new curriculum. Nonetheless, Mastin emphasized the need for more comprehensive training beyond webinars, arguing that educators should not be expected to undertake this professional development on their own time. He believes that consultation with the union should have occurred earlier in the process.

As Ontario prepares for this significant educational shift, the focus remains on ensuring that teachers are equipped to deliver effective instruction in alignment with the new curriculum.