Return to exams and no boundary changes: What’s changing at Ottawa-Carleton District Schools

Start studying now: If you have a child going into grade 9 or 10 this September, they probably won’t be happy to know final exams are back. 

The decision comes after the Ontario government appointed supervisor Robert Plamondon, who took over control of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board in June following years of deficits. He’s written a letter to families saying they should expect some changes come the 2025-2026 school year. 

• “Although the OCDSB has had final evaluations in Grades 9 and 10, those evaluations have not included a final exam, which will better prepare them for more consequential evaluations in Grades 11 and 12,” he wrote. “Following a review of our Student Success Days and feedback from teachers and parents, I have directed staff to reintroduce exams or summative assessments in Grades 9 and 10, beginning in September 2025. This practice will ensure students are prepared for their next courses or post-secondary pursuits.”

It’s a reversal in tone from 2022, when a spokesperson for then-Education Minister Stephen Lecce said it was up to boards to decide whether to administer exams and determine how students are graded. 

At the time, the OCDSB said it scrapped exams to support students' mental health and well-being better. The board said that if work was uncompleted, teachers would use that week to call in students to complete their tasks.  

No boundary changes: Earlier this year, trustees voted to change the boundaries of some schools, which received considerable pushback. Parents expressed concerns about their children forming a community in one school before needing to switch to another. Others said the location changes would have them attend school even further from home. 

In his letter, Plamondon said no students will be required to move educational facilities next year. 

• Despite the dedicated efforts of teachers and staff, confidence among parents in the OCDSB has declined. Many believe the board lost focus on the fundamentals of education, impacting trust and student enrollment,” the supervisor said. 

Statistics released by the OCDSB in December said enrollment last year had increased by 200 students, almost 1,000 fewer than projected the previous spring. Meanwhile, the Catholic board gained over 2,100 students during that same period, with the Catholic and public French boards increasing by a combined 2,300 students. 

Transparency: Shortly after trustees were stripped of their positions, they were locked out of their OCDSB email accounts without any way to correspond with their students or parents. Their pay was also cut — something which did not occur last time the OCDSB had its control taken over a few decades ago. 

It’s unclear how long Plamondon will be in his role or when trustees will return to the board table. But in his letter, he wrote that parents and guardians can contact him directly in the meantime. 

• “Supervision is not just a change in governance — it’s an opportunity to move quickly and make the positive changes our students need and deserve,” said Plamondon.