b'EDUCATION AGREEMENTSAn Equitable Futurefor Education BY RICK GARRICKCOO launches education agreement resources toolkitT he Chiefs of Ontariobetween First Nations communities andsurrounding education agreements had (COO) received a positiveprovincial school boards. changed. The goal of our Education response to the launch of itsJulia Candlish, Director of EducationAgreement Resources [toolkit] is to new Education Agreementat the COO, says education agreementsshift this conversation and provide Resources toolkit this past July, whichserve as an important relationship- resources to First Nations so that if they includes an Education Agreementbuilding tool between a First Nationwant to renew or create new education Overview document, an Educationand a school board, allowing for well- agreements, they have some helpful Agreement Template and an engagingnegotiated solutions that incorporateresources to access. The response has been action sketch video. the reciprocal education approach whilepositive thus far, especially to the video.First Nations learners deserve everyadding additional support services thatInformation about the toolkit, opportunity to succeed. As leaders,First Nations students need and deserve. including the four-minute Introduction teachers and advocates for First NationsEach First Nations situation isto Education Agreements video, is posted education, we must ensure they have theunique. Being able to negotiate educationonline at education.chiefs-of-ontario.org/ tools they need to succeed and remainagreements allows our communities to sitpriorities/lifelonglearning/ connected to their culture and language,down with the school board and explaineducation-agreements.says Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare.those needs and how we want them toThese resources can provide First The Education Agreement Resourcesbe addressed, Candlish says. EducationNations with a starting point as they are intended to improve the quality ofagreements set out the standards andenter into negotiations with school education for First Nations learners byservices that our children should receiveboards, Lowen says. For example, First establishing collaborative relationshipsfrom the [school] board. Nations have the flexibility to use some of The toolkit was developedthe suggestions we made in the education after the provincialagreement to fit their local needs and government amendedgoals. The video is a great way of gaining the Education Act and itsan understanding of different real-life regulations in 2019, includingscenarios and how well-negotiated the introduction of theeducation agreements can support First reciprocal education approach.Nations students.Education agreements wereLowen adds that education previously known as tuitionagreements are an essential tool in agreements, educationadvocacy for First Nations student equity service agreements or reverse education service agreements. and cultural safety.The Chiefs of OntarioAgreements can ensure that First heard loud and clear from FirstNations have access to student data, and Nations in Ontario that theycan set out education service standards value education agreements,and many other terms aimed at achieving says Patrik Lowen, Programhigh-quality education programs, services Lead for the COO Educationand supports, he says. Finally, education Sector, noting that in theagreements are often important when it provincial governmentscomes to relationship building between amendments, messagingFirst Nations and school boards.20l I ssue2 2022/23C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'