The HWDSB Secondary Program Strategy was launched in 2012. HWDSB’s Elementary Program Strategy was launched in 2016 with the French Immersion Location Strategy and Application Process following shortly soon after. There are several aspects of the Program Strategies including specialty programs and general programming and supports for K to 12 students.
The HWDSB Secondary Program Strategy was launched in 2012. HWDSB’s Elementary Program Strategy was launched in 2016 with the French Immersion Location Strategy and Application Process following shortly soon after. There are several aspects of the Program Strategies including specialty programs and general programming and supports for K to 12 students.
HWDSB is currently in the implementation phase of our 5-year Multi-Year Strategic Plan. This strategy guides our work and informs the goals found in our Board Improvement Plan which seeks to: improve numeracy, literacy, future preparedness, well-being and engagement for every HWDSB student.
Program Strategy Review Phases
Malatest gathered extensive input from our community to inform the recommendations contained in their final report. A total of 4,361 parents/caregivers, 326 students, and 2,087 staff completed surveys. In addition, the consultants held 18 focus groups and conducted 21 individual interviews through the fall of 2025, including a dedicated in-person focus group with the Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and a virtual session with community organizations. School visits were conducted at Bellmoore Elementary School, Bernie Custis Secondary School, and Westmount Secondary School to capture a range of school experiences, accompanied by additional focus group sessions with students at each location. A supplementary parent focus group was also held at Prince of Wales to address gaps in representation from the spring survey.
As part of the third phase of consultation, the consultant hosted a variety of validation meetings with interested parties who had engaged in large focus groups. These validation meetings were intended to provide Malatest an opportunity to confirm the information that was shared by participants, prior to the development of the final recommendations. In November, we also welcomed families to engage with Malatest through the online Engage platform to ensure the feedback Malatest heard was accurate as they finalized recommendations to the Board of Trustees. These validation meetings were a new step in our consultation process and reflective of staff using our Human Rights Impact Assessment Tool to continue to find ways to respectfully and accurately reflect community input.
Malatest has completed a detailed report summarizing 10 Key Findings and 27 Recommendations to help improve the HWDSB Elementary Focus Programs (6 recommendations), Secondary Program Strategy (15 recommendations) and the French Immersion Program (6 recommendations). As indicated in the Final Report, many of the recommendations articulated in this review could introduce considerable changes for a number of involved parties, including students, staff and parents. The consultant has not identified timelines for the possible adoption of the recommendations; however, based on experiences communicated by other school boards implementing similar changes, they have recommended the need for a phased approach as well as extensive consultations with the various communities to be impacted by such changes. Staff will require time to develop an action plan to review, modify or implement the recommendations in a strategic manner to best meet the needs of every student.
Trustees discussed the final report at Program Committee meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Community can access the Program Committee Package, Recording, Presentation. As a next step, Trustees have passed a motion that the Program Committee recommends that the Review of Elementary Program Strategy, Secondary Programs Strategy and the French Immersion Location Strategy and Application Process report prepared by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. be received, and that staff be directed to develop Guiding Principles to support consideration of the recommendations. These Guiding Principles will be presented to the Committee in February 2026 for review, discussion, input, and a recommendation for approval. This motion will be reviewed at the Board meeting on January 12, 2026.
We will ensure you are made aware with ongoing and timely updates moving forward. While this occurs, planning for the 2026-2027 school year will stay the course.
Our sincere thanks to everyone for their participation in this significant review. We are grateful to over 7,000 people who kindly participated in the review and offered their feedback and insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the program review happening now?
The last time HWDSB did a review of Elementary Programs alongside French Immersion was in 2016. Additionally, Secondary Programs which launched in 2012 have not been fully reviewed. Given that it is our Mission to ensure that every student experiences dynamic learning and builds their own future, we know that our programs need to meet the ever-changing needs of students and their families. To do that we have embarked on a fulsome Program Strategy Review. It’s time.
Who is doing this review?
After a competitive bidding process, the successful vendor is R.A. Malatest & Associates – an established education research consultancy established in 1985 with extensive experience and expertise across a wide array of research subjects and methodologies, with a particular focus on public policy research. In this process, Malatest will create and implement various opportunities for families, students, staff and community members to share their experiences with our programs.
Who will get to share their perspective?
It is important that we hear diverse voices in this review. Students, parents /caregivers, staff, community organizations/partners, Trustees and union leaders will have a range of opportunities to share their perspectives with Malatest.
What will HWDSB do with this information?
Malatest will share their findings and recommendations to HWDSB. HWDSB will then evaluate the research findings to help inform, enhance and implement programs that responds to the findings that are aligned with the values, mission and vision of HWDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
When will Malatest provide their report to the Board
Malatest, the research consultant conducting the Program Strategy Review, presented their findings and recommendations to the HWDSB Program Committee on December 11, 2025. The report will be formally presented to the Board of Trustees at the next scheduled board meeting on January 12, 2026.
What is going to happen after Malatest provides their report to the Board?
Once the report is received by HWDSB staff, including the findings and recommendations, staff will review the document and, based on direction from the Board of Trustees, determine the next steps. These steps will guide how the report’s recommendations may shape HWDSB programs in schools moving forward. Staff will develop guiding principles to inform a phased approached to support consideration of the recommendations.
Does the report mean that things will change immediately for my students in programs such as French Immersion, Elementary Focus Programs, and/or Secondary Specialty Programs?
After receiving Malatest’s report on the HWDSB Program Strategy, staff will require time to assess how its findings may impact specific programming. Any changes to programs such as French Immersion, Elementary Focus Programs, or Secondary Specialty Programs will be communicated to the community as decisions are made and developments occur. Further engagement sessions will occur in the Fall of 2026 prior to the implementation of any recommendation or program changes.
Why are we completing this review? What do we want to achieve?
Times have changed since our last Program Review, along with changing demographics and technologies. Therefore, this review will help us determine the next steps as we seek to support all students to achieve their full potential. If there are things we need to change or adapt, this review will help us identify the decisions we need to make.
What are the various stages of this review?
The Program Strategy Review has four main components:
What is a validation session?
A validation session is when Malatest meets with a variety of representative groups so that Malatest can hear about the data collected so far. The groups will then affirm what Malatest has heard and also add any missing ideas that are essential. This additional information gathered from these meetings informed Malatest in their analysis and in writing their report for HWDSB. Validation sessions occurred with Executive Council, Trustees, principals and vice-principals, Indigenous Education Council, and the Parent Involvement Committee.
Will the final report be public and accessible for all students, families and community members? When will I be able to read it?
The final report was presented to the Program Committee on December 11, 2025. The final report can be accessed here.
If you have any questions, you can e-mail us at [email protected].
Updated on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.