Education Act
R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 304
SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR, professional activity days
Historical version for the period February 27, 2023 to July 26, 2023.
Last amendment: 29/23.
Legislative History: 664/91, 91/98, 360/06, 579/07, 15/09, 183/09, 13/13, 364/15, 179/20, 125/21, 417/21, 29/23.
This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.
1. (1) In this Regulation,
“instructional day” means a school day that is designated as an instructional day on a school calendar and upon which day an instructional program that may include examinations is provided for each pupil whose program is governed by such calendar; (“journée d’enseignement”)
“professional activity” includes evaluation of the progress of pupils, consultation with parents, the counselling of pupils, curriculum and program evaluation and development, professional development of teachers and attendance at educational conferences, but does not include preparation by teachers for classes or instruction; (“activité de perfectionnement professionnel”)
“professional activity day” means a school day that is designated as a day for professional activities on a school calendar; (“journée pédagogique”)
“school day” means a day that is within a school year and is not a school holiday; (“jour de classe”)
“school year” means the period prescribed as such by or approved as such under this Regulation. (“année scolaire”) R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 1 (1); O. Reg. 360/06, s. 2.
(2) A board may designate half a school day an instructional program and the remainder of the day for professional activities, but such a day constitutes a half-day in determining the number of instructional days in the school year. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 1 (2).
2. (1) Subject to section 5, the school year shall commence on or after the 1st day of September and end on or before the 30th day of June. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 2 (1).
(2) Revoked: O. Reg. 91/98, s. 2 (2).
(3) Revoked: O. Reg. 91/98, s. 2 (4).
(3.1) Subject to section 5, every school year shall include a minimum of 194 school days designated as follows:
1. Three days shall be designated by the board as professional activity days.
2. In addition to the three days required under paragraph 1, up to four days may be designated by the board as professional activity days.
3. Any school days not designated as professional activity days under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be instructional days.
4. Revoked: O. Reg. 417/21, s. 1.
O. Reg. 360/06, s. 3; O. Reg. 579/07, s. 1; O. Reg. 13/13, s. 1; O. Reg. 364/15, s. 1; O. Reg. 417/21, s. 1.
(4) Subject to section 5, the following are school holidays:
1. Every Saturday and Sunday.
2. When the school is open during July, Canada Day.
3. Labour Day.
4. A day appointed by the Governor General or the Lieutenant Governor as a public holiday or for Thanksgiving.
5. A Christmas vacation consisting of fourteen consecutive days commencing on the Monday next following the Friday preceding the 21st day of December, but when the 21st day of December is a Thursday or a Friday, commencing on the Monday next following.
5.1 Family Day, being the third Monday in February.
6. Five consecutive days commencing on the Monday next following the Friday preceding the 14th day of March.
7. Good Friday.
8. Easter Monday.
9. Victoria Day. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 2 (4); O. Reg. 579/07, s. 2.
(4.1)-(6) Revoked: O. Reg. 417/21, s. 1.
3. (1) Revoked: O. Reg. 91/98, s. 3 (2).
(2) Revoked: O. Reg. 91/98, s. 3 (4).
(3) Where a school has a policy of granting exemptions to pupils from the writing of examinations, such exemptions may be granted only from the final examinations in a course and only where at least one other set of examinations has been held. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 3 (3).
(3.1) With respect to every school year after the 1997-1998 school year, a board may designate up to ten instructional days as examination days. O. Reg. 91/98, s. 3 (5).
(4) The teaching staff shall be in school during regular school hours on examination days and accessible to pupils, unless the board directs otherwise. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 3 (4).
(5), (6) Revoked: O. Reg. 417/21, s. 2.
4. (1) In each year every board shall, except in respect of a school or class for which the board has submitted a proposed school calendar under section 5, prepare, adopt and submit to the Minister on or before the first day of March in respect of the next school year, the school calendar or school calendars to be followed in the schools under its jurisdiction, and each such school calendar shall,
(a) state the school or schools in which the calendar is to be followed;
(b) conform to section 2; and
(c) identify each day of the school year as an instructional day, a professional activity day or a school holiday. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 4 (1); O. Reg. 417/21, s. 3 (1).
(2) Revoked: O. Reg. 183/09, s. 1.
(2.1) If a board designates one or more additional professional activity days under paragraph 2 of subsection 2 (3.1), it shall ensure that some of the professional activities relate to curriculum development, implementation and review. O. Reg. 360/06, s. 4.
(2.2), (3) Revoked: O. Reg. 417/21, s. 3 (2).
4.1 (1) With respect to each professional activity day required under paragraph 1 of subsection 2 (3.1), every board shall,
(a) prepare an agenda that identifies,
(i) the date, location and timing,
(ii) the school or schools participating, and
(iii) the program and scheduled professional activities; and
(b) at least 10 school days before the scheduled professional activity day, make available the agenda by,
(i) posting it on the website of the board and of each participating school that has a website,
(ii) posting it in a conspicuous location in the main office of the board and of each participating school,
(iii) distributing it to the chair of the school council of each participating school, and
(iv) posting or distributing it in any other manner that the board considers appropriate. O. Reg. 360/06, s. 5 (1).
(2) Revoked: O. Reg. 417/21, s. 4.
4.2 Revoked: O. Reg. 360/06, s. 5 (2).
5. (1) For one or more schools under its jurisdiction a board may designate a school year and school holidays that are different from those prescribed in section 2 and, where a board does so, the board shall submit to the Minister on or before the first day of March a proposed school calendar for the school year next following in respect of such school or schools, identifying thereon each day of the school year as an instructional day, a professional activity day or a school holiday, and the board may, upon approval thereof by the Minister, implement such school calendar. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 5 (1).
(2) Where the Minister informs a board that he or she does not approve the school calendar submitted under subsection (1), the board may amend its proposed school calendar and submit to the Minister a revised school calendar and, upon approval thereof by the Minister, the board may implement the revised school calendar. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 5 (2).
(3) Where a board has submitted a proposed school calendar under subsection (1) and the Minister has not approved on or before the 15th day of April such calendar or a revision thereof submitted under subsection (2), the board shall, on or before the 1st day of May, prepare, adopt and submit to the Minister a school calendar in accordance with the requirements set out under clauses 4 (1) (a) to (c) and subsection 4 (2.1). R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 5 (3); O. Reg. 417/21, s. 5.
5.1 Despite sections 4 and 5, if, in the opinion of the Minister, an emergency requires that all or part of those sections should not apply with respect to a school year, the following modifications may apply:
1. With respect to a school calendar to which section 4 applies, the board shall submit the school calendar on or before the date specified by the Minister.
2. With respect to a school calendar to which subsection 5 (1) applies, the board shall submit the school calendar on or before the date specified by the Minister and if the Minister does not approve the school calendar on or before the date specified by the Minister for approval, the board shall submit a school calendar in accordance with the requirements set out under section 4 on or before the date specified by the Minister for that submission.
3. If a board submits a school calendar under subsection 5 (1) on or before March 1 and an emergency subsequently arises, the Minister may approve the school calendar or a revision thereof on or before the date specified by the Minister for approval, and if the Minister does not approve the school calendar on or before that date the board shall submit a school calendar in accordance with the requirements set out under section 4 on or before the date specified by the Minister for that submission. O. Reg. 417/21, s. 6.
5.1.1 Despite subsections 4 (1), 5 (1) and (3), the following rules apply in respect of the 2023-2024 school year:
1. For the purposes of subsection 4 (1), the school calendar shall be prepared, adopted and submitted to the Minister on or before April 14, 2023.
2. For the purposes of subsection 5 (1), the proposed school calendar shall be submitted on or before April 14, 2023.
3. Where a board has submitted a proposed school calendar under subsection 5 (1) and the Minister has not approved, on or before April 28, 2023, such calendar or a revision thereof submitted under subsection 5 (2), the board shall, on or before May 15, 2023, prepare, adopt and submit to the Minister a school calendar in accordance with the requirements set out under clauses 4 (1) (a) to (c) and subsection 4 (2.1). O. Reg. 29/23, s. 1 (1).
Note: On August 31, 2024, section 5.1.1 of the Regulation is revoked. (See: O. Reg. 29/23, s. 1 (2)
5.2 With respect to each school calendar submitted under section 4 and each school calendar approved under section 5 or 5.1, the board shall submit to the Minister, on or before August 15, a general outline of the activities to be conducted on the professional activity days identified on the calendar. O. Reg. 417/21, s. 6.
6. (1) Where in the opinion of the board it is desirable to alter the date of a professional activity day or an examination day on a school calendar that has been submitted under subsection 4 (1) or 5 (3), updated under section 5.1 or approved and implemented under subsection 5 (1) or (2), the board may alter the school calendar. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 6 (1); O. Reg. 364/15, s. 3.
(2) Where, the board alters a school calendar under subsection (1), the board shall notify the parents concerned and the Minister of the altered date as far in advance as possible. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 6 (2).
(3) The prior approval of the Minister is required for changes other than to the date of a professional activity day or an examination day. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 6 (3).
(4) Where,
(a) a school or class is closed for a temporary period because of failure of transportation arrangements, inclement weather, fire, flood, a breakdown of the school heating plant or a similar emergency, or a school is closed under the Health Protection and Promotion Act or the Education Act; and
(b) the school calendar is not altered under subsection (1),
the day on which the school or class is closed remains an instructional day or a professional activity day, as the case may be, as designated on the school calendar applicable to such school or class. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 6 (4).
7. (1) Every board shall publish annually its school calendar or school calendars and ensure that copies thereof are available at the beginning of the school year for the information of parents and pupils. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 7 (1).
(2) A school calendar or school calendars published under subsection (1) shall, in addition to the information required to be listed under subsection 4 (1), indicate in a general manner the activities to be conducted on professional activity days. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 7 (2).
8. In each year, every board shall undertake an annual evaluation of the activities of the professional activity days of the previous year and retain such evaluations on file. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 8.
9. (1) A Remembrance Day service shall be held in every school on the 11th day of November or, when the 11th day of November is a Saturday or a Sunday, on the Friday preceding the 11th day of November. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 9 (1).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the school participates in a service of remembrance at a cenotaph or other location in the community. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 304, s. 9 (2).
Schedule 1 Revoked: O. Reg. 183/09, s. 2 (2).
