New Grade 9 Math Course Curriculum Release

We would like to begin by thanking you for your continued work to ensure continuity of student learning over the course of this past year, as well as your leadership in the implementation of the new elementary math curriculum and planning for the de-streaming of Grade 9 math.

We are pleased to announce the release of the new Grade 9 Mathematics course. The new Grade 9 Mathematics course replaces the Grade 9 Applied and Academic Mathematics courses last updated in 2005, as well as the Grade 9 Mathematics Transfer course, Applied to Academic. This new course will be implemented in classrooms across the province starting in September 2021.

This course is available to all students, teachers and parents/guardians on the Ontario Curriculum and Resources website. Initial teacher and parent/guardian resources are available now and schools are encouraged to share this information with parents/guardians.

The new course is part of the government’s four-year $200M math strategy to ensure that all students can build the confidence and skills they need to excel in mathematics.

De-streaming Grade 9 is a key component of the Ministry of Education’s commitment to moving forward with changes to the education system that seek to address systemic discrimination and help break down barriers for students who are Black, Indigenous, those who live in low-income households and those with disabilities and special education needs, so that all students will have an opportunity to reach their full potential.

The new Grade 9 Mathematics course has been informed by extensive research and the guidance of Dr. George Gadanidis, Professor Chair, Curriculum Studies and Studies in Applied Linguistics at Western University, and Dr. Christine Suurtamm, Vice-Dean of Research and Professional Development and Full Professor of Mathematics Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa. The course was also informed by analysis of best practices from other jurisdictions, expert knowledge and input from a wide range of education stakeholders, postsecondary, business and industry partners, and Indigenous partners.

This new math course builds on the 2020 elementary math curriculum to better support successful student transitions from elementary to secondary school. The new course is designed to be inclusive of all students by offering opportunities for them to build a solid foundation in mathematics, to broaden their knowledge and skills, and to develop a positive mathematical identity. This approach also keeps students’ options open to support informed decisions about future mathematics courses.

This new course is organized into the following areas: number, algebra, data, geometry and measurement, and financial literacy. There is an overarching strand for students to develop mathematical thinking in connection to the learning in the other strands and to make connections throughout the course to their lived experiences, possible careers, and connections to other disciplines. Students will also continue exploring social-emotional learning skills in a dedicated strand. Social-emotional learning skills help students build confidence in their math skills and support their overall well-being. Social-emotional learning skills will not be assessed, evaluated or reported on.

With regards to social-emotional learning skills in the elementary curriculum, in December the ministry shared emerging research on the evaluation and reporting of these skills. Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, schools are asked not to assess, evaluate or report on the overall expectations related to social-emotional learning skills in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8, Mathematics (2020) and The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8, Health and Physical Education (2019). It is the ministry’s expectation that instruction of the social-emotional learning skills will continue while educators engage in ongoing professional learning.

The ministry is pleased to invite school board staff to a Technical Briefing on the content of the new Grade 9 Mathematics course. This briefing will be held on Tuesday, June 15 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM and repeated on Wednesday, June 16 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Participants for the Technical Briefing should register at the following link: https://forms.gle/2Wck6fuRuYP7KsFk6.

The ministry is also committed to supporting educators through training and resources, including webinars and online resources. Along with the curriculum, the ministry has released initial resources for educators and parents/guardians, including curriculum overview videos, a key changes document and parent/guardian guide. Sample long-range plans will be available in the coming weeks. Additional resources and implementation supports will be added to the Curriculum and Resources website in the coming months.

As a first step, the ministry is hosting introductory webinars. To register for these webinars, please visit the Curriculum and Resources website.

These sessions will be recorded and made available on the ministry’s Virtual Learning Environment for any staff that are unable to attend.

In addition, the ministry has provided targeted funding to school boards that can be used beginning this spring to help prepare Grade 8 students and their families for their transition to the new Grade 9 Mathematics course. This funding can be used for direct support to students in literacy and math, supports for secondary transition teams to develop targeted transition plans for vulnerable and underserved students, and planning for Indigenous students who are transitioning from federally-funded First Nation elementary schools to provincial secondary schools. More information about targeted funding for de-streaming was shared in a Transfer Payment Agreement with school boards at the end of March.

Questions regarding the new course can be addressed to your regional office.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for your leadership in the implementation of the new Grade 9 Mathematics course.

Sincerely,