The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is conducting a review of its elementary alternative program, an option currently available to Ottawa families alongside English/Core French and French Immersion programs.  Alternative schools follow the Ontario curriculum while emphasizing values such as student-directed learning, multi-age groupings, anecdotal reporting and parental involvement.  While a 2006 survey found that parents wanted to see progressive changes in the alternative program, students, parents, and alumni from schools such as Lady Evelyn, Ottawa's first alternative school, are dismayed to discover that a focus of the current review seems to be on program closure. The very short time line (draft recommendations from OCDSB staff are due in busy mid-December just before the holiday break) and a telling absence of school visits as part of the review are most worrisome. The threat of closure comes at a time when more Ontario families are demanding choice in primary education and despite clear evidence that parents are dedicated to the program and students leave the alternative stream well-equipped to tackle high school. 

Proponents of the elementary alternative program can rally against the threat of closure with submissions of video testimonial at http://pages.overlay.tv/asac/ and e-mails to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .