Focus on Teaching

First published in 2023, Focus on Teaching is the only survey that is available to all Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs).

The survey’s questions are carefully designed to gather and analyze data about the professional experiences and demographics of educators. The College will own the resulting analysis and share relevant segments of it with our partners in Ontario’s publicly funded education system.

Reliable data encourages informed decision-making

There are more than two million students in Ontario’s school system. Providing safe and supportive learning spaces for them depends on the combined efforts of the many organizations and individuals who work within or in proximity to the system.

Each partner in our education system has their own role to play and key decisions to make. It is our belief that the College is uniquely positioned to provide a data-rich picture of the full range of OCTs and their professional experiences to key decision-makers. That data can then be used to inform choices that will shape the system in the future.

Mapping long-term trends in the teacher workforce

Focus on Teaching expands on data that was collected by the College’s previous annual survey, Transition to Teaching, which was available only on OCTs in the first five years of their career.

Distributing the Focus on Teaching survey to all OCTs allows the College to maintain Ontario’s only long-term record of the dynamics of the teaching profession.

Students benefit when learning spaces are led by qualified certified teachers. A better understanding of how and when OCTs enter and exit the profession can contribute to that goal.

Survey development and partnerships

The survey was developed in partnership with Forum Research Inc. and TCI Management Consultants following initial consultations with seventeen (17) education system leaders such as federations, school board associations, and the Ministry of Education. There were also contributions from OCTs who participated in twenty-two (22) focus groups over the summer.

Data gathered from the survey will be analyzed by Forum Research Inc.

The College also partnered with Amorell & Co. Inc. and D&D Inclusion Consulting to help ensure that the questionnaire adheres to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Additionally, the survey has been reviewed externally by Veritas IRB to ensure alignment with best practices in ethical survey research.

Survey questions

The survey asks a series of questions related to teacher supply and demand, as well your professional experiences as an OCT. Topics include, but are not limited to, employment, demographics, the teacher shortage, career progression and labour mobility. You can exit the survey at any time. All answers you provide up to that point will be included in the survey results.

Protecting data privacy

All survey results will be anonymized. The College and decision-makers will not be able to link individual responses to respondents.

All data provided will be stored safely and securely by Forum Research Inc.

A report of survey findings will be made publicly available in Spring 2025 via the College’s website. Forum Research Inc. will delete names, email addresses and survey access codes once the survey closes.

Data usage and protection

The College will provide guidance to Forum Research Inc. to curate tailored reports that are specific to local parts of the province. For example, a regional school board may learn barriers to employment for some OCTs in their region.

At no point will personal identifiable information be shared with the College, or any other organization, including federations, school boards, or the Ministry of Education.

For more information about Focus on Teaching, please visit our FAQs.

Reports

Transition to Teaching Archive