The Education Promise
About The Education Promise
The Education PromiseÌýis a 5-year pan-Canadian initiative built on the belief thatÌýK-12Ìýpublic education isÌýone ofÌýCanada’s most valuable, butÌýunderappreciated assets. Our schools are an upstream policy solution to some of our country’s biggest challenges—from climate change to economic resilience. AchievingÌýpolicy change in these areasÌýrequires breaking down silos and building a new, diverse coalition of advocates from both inside and outside the education sector.Ìý
The Education PromiseÌýfocuses on four critical policy areas where strengthening public education can create actionable, long-term policy solutions for all Canadians:Ìý
The Approach
The Education Promise – by working from the outside-in; by bringing together stakeholders with expertise across key issues from inside and outside education; by amplifying existing examples of what’s possible; and by supporting strategies for change that go beyond relying on local heroes – provides a pathway to real systemic change.Ìý
We believe that change happens when the right people connect at the right time to make a difference. The Education Promise is both about building a process to develop policy recommendations and about building the connections across the country that will help to make change possible.Ìý
Policy Action & Research
We are translating complex education systems into clear, actionable knowledge to drive evidence-based policy change.ÌýIn 2026, the work ofÌýThe Education PromiseÌýwillÌýlay the groundwork:ÌýÌý
- Annual Canadian School Survey (ACSS):ÌýIn partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University’s , we have launched a new national survey, in consultation with principals across Canada, to track key issues and inform policy recommendations.ÌýÌý
- Education 101s: Understanding theÌýlevers of change:ÌýTo address a critical gap inÌýpolicy knowledge and advocacy, we are developing 13 concise summaries of how key policy levers (governance, funding, curriculum, etc.)ÌýoperateÌýacross every provincial and territorial public education system.ÌýÌý
- PolicyÌýbriefs:ÌýWe are developing four evidence-based policy briefs—one for each focus area—that connect public educationÌýto Canada’sÌýmost urgent challenges,ÌýidentifyÌýbarriers and enablers, and compile policy recommendations aimed at multiple decision-makers.ÌýÌý
To stay up to date on this workÌýand receiveÌýitÌýright to your inbox,ÌýsubscribeÌýto our newsletter.Ìý
Building the Coalition & Engaging Canadians
Policy change requires consensus and collective action. We are actively building a diverse, cross-sector coalition to advocate for change.Ìý
- Pan-CanadianÌýengagement tour:ÌýFrom January to June 2026,Ìýwe will be coming to a community nearÌýyou!ÌýOurÌý11-city, 7-province tourÌýwill connect us withÌýprovincial governments, educators, school boards, and civil society organizations.ÌýWant to beÌýpart of these engagements?ÌýLet us know by connecting here.ÌýÌý
- The Promise of Public EducationÌýEvent Series:ÌýWe have launched an 8-eventÌýseries that isÌýfreeÌýand open to the public.ÌýThe Promise of Public Education; the role of public schools in nation-buildingÌýseries willÌýreposition public education as a cornerstone of Canada’s long-term resilience and prosperity. The series will bring together leaders from education, business, policy, and civil society.ÌýSubscribe to our newsletter for first access to event details and tickets.ÌýÌý
- The Advisory Board:ÌýOurÌýpan-Canadian, cross-sectorÌýAdvisory Board provides strategic advice and acts as a sounding board, connecting the work ofÌýThe Education PromiseÌýto leaders in health, labour, environment, and business.ÌýMeet the Advisory Board.Ìý
Join the Movement: The Pan-Canadian Education Action Plan
There is currently no overarching, coherent set of policy recommendations aimed at the multiple levels of decision-makers responsible for education policy, including provinces and territories, faculties of education, school boards, and others. That’s why the work we’re doing to engage across sectors and across the country will result in the development of a pan-Canadian Education Action Plan.Ìý
All ofÌýour upcoming research, policyÌýdevelopment,Ìýengagement, and partnership is driving towardÌýbuilding andÌýfinalizingÌýtheÌýPan-Canadian Education Action Plan, which will serve as theÌýfoundation for a new, permanent wave of advocacy for public education. The Action Plan will beÌýpublicly releasedÌýinÌýFallÌý2026.Ìý
