Elementary Program Review
Last Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2025
The District undertook the Elementary Program Review in April 2024 to assess and enhance the quality and accessibility of our elementary programs.
To date, we have received information on the proposed program models, boundary changes, grade configurations, and transition planning. This information can be found on the engagement platform here.
Please note that all information related to transportation and bell start and end times lies within the control of the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority. They have indicated that if the Elementary Program Review is passed, they will present a plan no later than February 2026.
Program Proposal
As of January 21, 2025, in Report 25-002, the current programs proposed include:
Kindergarten Program at 50% French and 50% English. This remains unchanged.
French Immersion Program from Grade 1 to Grade 8. In Grade 1 to Grade 6, there will be 60% French instruction. In Grades 7 and 8, there will be 50% French instruction.
Fluid entry in the French Immersion Program in Grades 1 to 3. If a student wishes to enter the French Immersion Program after Grade 4, assessments will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Enhanced English Program from Grade 1 to Grade 8 with 84% English instruction and 16% French.
Students in French Immersion can choose to move to Enhanced English at any point in time.
The Middle French Immersion will be discontinued and gradually phased out. Students currently enrolled in the programs will be able to finish but the location of the program may change.
The Alternative Program with Core French will be discontinued and gradually phased out. Students currently enrolled in the program will be able to finish.
15 English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development Classes remain in place across the District.
116 Specialized Program Classes remain in place across the District, including the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Program, Behaviour Intervention Program (BIP), Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Program, Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program, Dual Support Program, General Learning Program (Junior and Intermediate, Physical Support Program, and Primary Special Needs Program.
26 Specialized Program Classes will be discontinued and gradually phased out, including the Primary Gifted Program, the Language Learning Disability Program, and the Learning Disabilities Specialized Intervention Program.
Boundary and Grade Configurations Proposal
As of March 4, 2025, in Report 25-016, the current boundary and grade configuration proposal includes:
Students will move schools at the end of Grade 3, Grade 6, or Grade 8. Cohorts will move together in more cases across the District.
School boundaries will shift.
Schools designated as Alternative will transition to community schools.
Impacts on Zone 12
This information comes from Appendix A to Report 25-016, the proposed boundaries, and the current boundaries.
Carson Grove Elementary School
Capacity: 369 students
Current Programs: English Program
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 5
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 6Current Enrolment: 74%
Projected Enrolment: 77%Current Boundary for English Program with Core French Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Proposed Boundary for French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
* The French Immersion program is being phased into Carson Grove ES, starting with Year 1 Kindergarten to Grade 2 in September 2026 and adding one grade per year subsequently until Kindergarten to Grade 6 complement is in place.
Convent Glen Elementary School
Capacity: 245 students
Current Programs: English Program with Core French and Middle French Immersion
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and Middle French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 5
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 6Current Enrolment: 65%
Projected Enrolment: 76%Current Boundary for English Program with Core French for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Current Boundary for Middle French Immersion for Grade 4 to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Proposed Boundary for Middle French Immersion for Grade 4 to Grade 6
* The Middle French Immersion program is being phased out of Henry Larsen ES. The final year of Grade 4 intake will be September of 2026, and the program will phase out year by year, until the program is fully phased out at the school.
Emily Carr Middle School
Capacity: 412 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: 6 to 8
Proposed Grade Structure: 7 to 8Current Enrolment: 73%
Projected Enrolment: 64%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion for Grade 6 to Grade 8
Current Boundary for English Program with Core French for Grade 6 to Grade 8
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English and French Immersion for Grade 7 to Grade 8
Forest Valley Elementary School
Capacity: 573 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 5
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 6Current Enrolment: 52%
Projected Enrolment: 50%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Current Boundary for English Program with Core French for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English and French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Glen Ogilvie Public School
Capacity: 596 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 5
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 6Current Enrolment: 89%
Projected Enrolment: 88%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Current Boundary for English with Core French for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Proposed Boundary for French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Henry Larsen Elementary School
Capacity: 599 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion, English Program with Core French, and Middle French Immersion
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 8
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 8Current Enrolment: 69%
Projected Enrolment: 53%Current Boundary for English Program with Core French and Early French Immersion for Grade 6 to Grade 8
Current Boundary for Middle French Immersion for Grade 6 to Grade 8
Current Boundary for Early French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English and French Immersion for Grade 7 to Grade 8
Proposed Boundary for Middle French Immersion for Grade 7 to Grade 8
* The Middle French Immersion program is being phased out of Henry Larsen. The final year of the Grade 4 intake will be in September 2026, and the program will phase out year by year until the program is fully phased out at the school.
Henry Munro Middle School
Capacity: 746 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: 6 to 8
Proposed Grade Structure: 7 to 8Current Enrolment: 76%
Projected Enrolment: 47%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French for Grade 6 to Grade 8
Current Boundary for Middle French Immersion for Grade 4 to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English and French Immersion for Grade 7 to Grade 8
Le Phare Elementary School
Capacity: 378 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion
Proposed Programs: French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 5
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 6Current Enrolment: 86%
Projected Enrolment: 87%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Current Boundary for Middle French Immersion for Grade 4 to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
* The French Immersion program is being phased into Carson Grove, starting with Year 1 Kindergarten to Grade 2 in September 2026 and adding one grade per year subsequently until Kindergarten to Grade 6 complement is in place.
* The French Immersion program is being phased into Glen Ogilvie, starting with Year 1 Kindergarten to Grade 2 in September 2026 and adding one grade per year subsequently until Kindergarten to Grade 6 complement is in place.
Orleans Wood Elementary School
Capacity: 375 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 3
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 3Current Enrolment: 71%
Projected Enrolment: 69%Current Boundary for English Program with Core French and Early French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English and French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3
Robert Hopkins Public School
Capacity: 442 students
Current Programs: English Program with Core French and Middle French Immersion
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: JK to 5
Proposed Grade Structure: JK to 6Current Enrolment: 76%
Projected Enrolment: 76%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Current Boundary for English Program with Core French for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Proposed Boundary for French Immersion for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Terry Fox Elementary School
Capacity: 303 students
Current Programs: Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French
Proposed Programs: Enhanced English and French ImmersionCurrent Grade Structure: 4 to 8
Proposed Grade Structure: 4 to 8Current Enrolment: 83%
Projected Enrolment: 84%Current Boundary for Early French Immersion and English Program with Core French for Grade 4 to Grade 8
Proposed Boundary for Enhanced English and French Immersion for Grade 4 to Grade 8
Questions on the Review
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to write to me and ask me your questions. I have received a wide range of questions from emails from community members, during the community consultations, through parent council meetings, and many more avenues.
Below are a sample of questions and answers that I have received. The answers have been compiled through conversations with staff, answers on the engagement platform, and through the information available on the engagement platform. I will aim to update the questions as I receive more.
Please note that the answers expressed here are entirely my own and do not reflect an official position of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board of Trustees.
For the official frequently asked questions section, please refer to the engagement platform.
As a Trustee, what are your concerns or reservations with the proposed program model that should be considered?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
The reintegration of the 26 Specialized classes into the regular classroom and the supports that will be in place to ensure the success of all the students in the classroom.
Boundaries
What steps are being taken to prevent overcrowding or a lack of resources in classrooms as a result of these changes?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
A major design criterion behind the proposed boundary changes is creating a closer alignment of student capacity and student population. You can review the index for each school across the District here.
French Immersion
How will French teachers be secured to teach in all the schools where French immersion will be added?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
The District has been working on staffing projections and is confident that they will be able to provide qualified staff for the dual track programming system-wide. A major contributor to this is the redefined Time Allocation Model through the proposal which coordinates 60-minute teaching blocks as opposed to 40-minute teaching blocks leading to greater effectiveness across the system to allocate staff to classes.
Special Education
How will the reduction of specialized education programs translate to the resources available to the community schools?
Date of Answer: May 3, 2025
The staff previously assigned to the 26 Specialized Program Classes will now serve in a wider capacity across the District.
Opinion: I am not convinced that this is an improvement in programming for any student.
What measures are in place to ensure that students who currently rely on specialized programs will still receive the support they need?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
The 39 Specialized Program Classes proposed for re-integration were carefully selected as the learning trajectories of the students are better served in mainstream classrooms. The support offered in those classes will be reinvested into the system and available to students who need the support. In addition, the District will continue to strive for meeting the needs of all learners through professional learning related to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Differentiated Instruction (DI) and Culturally-Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy (CRRP).
Opinion: The above is an opinion of staff and the testimony I have heard from the community does not align with the goals.
Bell Times
Will the board be reviewing start times for all schools and adjusting them to stagger them?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
Bell start and end times lie within the control of the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority. They have indicated if the Elementary Program Review is passed, they will present a plan no later than February 2026.
Childcare
What is happening with the current childcare programs at places in schools?
Date of Answer: May 3, 2025
The current offering of childcare will continue to be in place and the District is aiming to offer these wrap-up-around programs in as many sites as are feasible. Approvals for sites for childcare take place in coordination with the City of Ottawa and other childcare providers. If the review is passed, more information will be available in the coming year.
Consultation
Can you provide more details on how these changes were decided?
Date of Answer: May 3, 2025
These proposed models, boundaries, and grade configurations were decided through:
District data: Analysis of demographics, achievement, engagement and well-being of elementary students.
Public consultation: Feedback from parents, staff, students and community members.
Relevant research: Literature reviews on bilingual/multilingual programming and inclusive education.
Cross-Boundary Transfer
Will families be able to apply for a Cross-Boundary Transfer?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
The current cross-boundary transfer process will be in place, but it will not be used as a bypass to the proposed transition plan.
Financial Impact
Will the board be reviewing start times for all schools and adjusting them to stagger them?
Date of Answer: March 8, 2025
The Board of Trustees approved a budget of $350,000 in Spring 2024 which included all associated human, material, and fiscal costs associated with the review.