The Supervisory Officers of District School Boards — directors of education and superintendents — have a major role in leading the Ontario government initiative to improve the level of student achievement in the next few years. They have the mandate to implement system programs and to ensure school programs that enable 75 percent of students to reach the provincial standard by 2008. It is accepted that the various partners in the delivery of education must work together and be informed and committed.

The September 12 session brings focus to the needs and roles of those charged with coordinating improvement of student achievement. This program includes encouragement from the Premier of Ontario, messages from the Minister of Education and the Deputy Minister, a framework from Michael Fullan and Avis Glaze, and a report on how achievement was raised in an American school district. Participants then had sessions to localize the message through consideration of best practices and regional planning.