Mapping the Impacts of COVID Disruptions on Postsecondary Access in Ontario in COVID School Year 2 (2020-21)

Mapping the Impacts of COVID Disruptions on Postsecondary Access in Ontario in COVID School Year 2 (2020-21) was written by Kelly Gallagher-Mackay and Robert S. Brown with Christine Corso and George Tam in collaboration with the research department of the Toronto District School Board. Graduation rates and PSE confirmations improved for many TDSB students during […]

Hamilton Community Research Partnership project shows the potential benefits of data-sharing coalitions

In October of 2023, we published a data brief on the relationship between high school math classes and postsecondary choices: In Ontario, information on a student’s educational journey from kindergarten through to postsecondary education (PSE) is tracked through the Ontario Education Number (OEN). However, data connected via the OEN is restricted to the Ontario government […]

Remote Opportunities for Adult Learners: Analyzing Ontario College Application Data During COVID-19

Remote Opportunities for Adult Learners: Analyzing Ontario College Application Data During COVID-19 was written by Jackie Pichette, Hagar Effah (Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario) and Melissa Fritz (OCAS). Remote Opportunities for Adult Learners: Analyzing Ontario College Application Data During COVID-19 Impacts of COVID-19 on College Applications – did the pandemic increase opportunities for adult […]

Entry Points for Mature Learners: HEQCO and OCAS Partner to Explore COVID Impacts on College Applicants

A collaborative study of OCAS’ 2021 Applicant Experience and Intention Survey reveals that remote work and school have created key entry points for mature learners at Ontario colleges. HEQCO and OCAS will continue to investigate Applicant Survey data to help better understand the pandemic’s continued impact on learning preferences. Author: Jackie Pichette When Ontario colleges […]

Postsecondary Credential Attainment and Labour Market Outcomes for Ontario Students with Disabilities

Postsecondary Credential Attainment and Labour Market Outcomes for Ontario Students with Disabilities was written by Ken Chatoor, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. Students with disabilities do not receive the same benefits from postsecondary education as other students Students with disabilities experience barriers at each stage of their path through postsecondary education (PSE) and into […]

Destreaming in Ontario: History, Evidence and Educator Reflections

Destreaming in Ontario high schools should be expanded to all core subjects in Grades 9 and 10 Ontario is the only province in the country that separates students into academic and non-academic streams as early as Grade 9. Evidence from both Ontario and international contexts has shown this practice disadvantages many students, especially racialized and […]

Improving the Accessibility of Remote Higher Education: Lessons from the pandemic and recommendations

New study examines how COVID-19 pandemic has amplified challenges for students with disabilities and offers recommendations for improving accessible remote learning The sudden shift to remote learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has important implications for accessibility in postsecondary education. A new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) finds that, on […]

High School Success and Access to Postsecondary Education

Barriers to completing high school, attending college diminishing for underrepresented groups: study Coming from a low-income neighbourhood or a family where neither parent attended postsecondary education are not significant barriers to graduating from high school and attending college. However, they are still strong influences on who attends university, concludes a new report published by the […]

Postsecondary Participation and Household Income

Ontario has seen improvement in postsecondary participation of low-income students, study finds  A cross-Canada comparison of student financial aid policies over 20 years found that relative to other provinces (excluding Quebec), Ontario was one of only two provinces to have seen substantial improvements in postsecondary attendance rates of students from all income levels. Ontario also […]