Letters of Permission

1
Letters of Permission

• Ontario Regulation 142/08 (Letters of Permission)
• and
• Applications for Letters of Permission
  Policy/Program Memorandum 147

Teaching Policy and Standards Branch Ministry of
Education June 2008
2
Purpose

• To provide an overview of the recently filed
  Ontario Regulation 142/08 (Letters of Permission)
  and the accompanying Applications for Letters of
  Permission Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) 147

3
Overview

• Ontario Regulation 142/08 and PPM 147 were
  developed to replace Ontario Regulation 183/97 in
  order to enhance the Letter of Permission (LOP)
  application process by
• Increasing due diligence
• Clarifying ambiguities
• Refining LOP advertising requirements

4
Applying for Letters of Permission

• Per the May 21, 2008, memo from the Deputy
  Minister
• Ontario Regulation 142/08 and PPM 147 will come
  into effect on June 30, 2008.
• Until that date, school boards must continue to
  submit applications for LOPs according to the
  requirements, and using the application form, set
  out in Ontario Regulation 183/97.
• As of June 30, 2008, school boards must submit
  applications for LOPs according to the
  requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 142/08
  and PPM 147.

5
Ontario Regulation 142/08

• Addresses ambiguities in the advertising
  requirements for teaching positions and reflects
  practical differences between print and internet
  advertising.
• Requires school boards to declare that they have
  exercised due diligence to ensure student safety
  by
• Conducting professional and criminal reference
  checks
• Ensuring that LOP applicants have never been
  members of the Ontario College of Teachers and
• Collecting a written declaration that LOP
  applicants do not have teaching certificates that
  are revoked, cancelled or suspended in another
  jurisdiction other than for failure to pay fees.

6
Ontario Regulation 142/08

• Adds a requirement that anyone hired under an LOP
  be 18 years of age or older and a high school
  graduate and
• Revokes the provision that limits the granting of
  an LOP for a period that extends beyond the end
  of the school year in order to provide
  flexibility to accommodate courses that do not
  conform to the school year calendar.

7
Policy/Program Memorandum 147

• The PPM supplements Ontario Regulation 142/08 by
  providing boards with
• Information about requirements for submitting an
  LOP application
• A description of the LOP application process and
• The new LOP application form.
• School boards must declare, as part of the LOP
  application form, that the board has
• Met the requirements in Ontario Regulation
  142/08 and
• Reviewed its list of occasional teachers and has
  not identified an available or willing candidate
  for the position.

8
Policy/Program Memorandum 147

• In addition to submitting the LOP application
  form, school boards are required to provide
  evidence, if asked to do so by the Ministry, that
  the board has fulfilled the advertising
  requirements set out in the new LOP regulation.
• School board staffing committees (or equivalent)
  are requested to review and discuss, at least
  once a year, the board-level LOP data provided by
  the Ministry.

9
Reference Material

• Ontario Regulation 142/08 can be found on the
  e-laws website at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.
• PPM 147 is posted on the ministry website at
  www.edu.gov.on.ca.
• LOP Application Process Comparison Chart
• Letters of Permission Qs As

10
Conclusion

• If you have any questions, please contact the
  ministry office in your region.