The Ontario Secondary School Teachers` Federation (OSSTF) and the Ontario government reached a tentative agreement on November 10, 2019, after months of negotiations. The agreement, which still needs to be ratified by OSSTF members, includes a number of significant changes.

One of the most notable changes is a two-year wage freeze, which means that OSSTF members will not receive any salary increases for 2019 and 2020. However, they will receive a 1 percent increase in 2021 and another 1 percent increase in 2022.

Another significant change in the tentative agreement is the increased focus on mental health support for both students and teachers. The agreement includes a commitment from the Ontario government to invest $50 million over the next two years in mental health services for students.

Additionally, the agreement includes changes to the class size requirements for high school courses. Under the new agreement, class sizes will be capped at 23 for most subjects, while some specialized courses will have a maximum class size of 24.

The tentative agreement also includes changes to the way that teachers are hired and evaluated. The agreement includes a new hiring process that will prioritize seniority, as well as a new evaluation framework that will focus on student achievement and teacher professional development.

Overall, the tentative agreement represents a significant shift in the way that teachers and the Ontario government will work together to improve the quality of education in the province. While it still needs to be ratified by OSSTF members, the agreement is a positive step forward for both teachers and students.