Bill 48, The Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act Receives Third Reading and Royal Assent
April 05 2019
On April 3, 2019, Bill 48, the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act received Royal Assent. The passage of the Bill will keep students safe, enhance the professionalism of teaching and improve College governance.
Expanded Definition of Sexual Abuse
The expanded definition of sexual abuse will result in the mandatory revocation of a member's licence for acts including sexual intercourse or other forms of physical sexual relations, touching of a sexual nature of the student by a member that is not restricted to an identified body part, and behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature.
There is provision for regulation to define further acts of sexual abuse.
These provisions come into effect immediately.
Entry to Practice Examination: Mathematics
The College supports the government's efforts to enhance math instruction. We are committed to ensuring that teachers receive initial and ongoing teacher education to prepare them to support students in all areas including math.
Council firmly believes that the College should not develop, fund, or implement the test. However, the College should have the regulatory authority to impose it as a condition of certification and the authority to deem equivalence.
The College looks forward to working with the government to establish mechanisms to further enhance teacher competency in mathematics.
College Governance Structure
The Bill also provides for greater efficiency and effectiveness in our governance structure and practices.
The Bill will enable a number of the recommendations approved by the College's governing Council at its Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2019 meeting. Others, including a process that may involve the election, selection (or a hybrid model) of Council Members and the ability to appoint non-Council members to serve on statutory committees are not yet possible and will require further legislative amendments.
The sections of the Bill related to mathematics and College governance will come into effect on a future date to be announced by the Government.
