About ETFO
Professional, credible, trusted. We know Ontario’s teachers!
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is the union representing 83,000 elementary teachers, occasional teachers, and educational and professional support personnel in elementary public schools in Ontario. The Federation has 76 locals across the province. ETFO is known as one of the foremost providers of teacher professional learning within Canada and is gaining a reputation for its work internationally.
Our reputation is based upon providing professional learning that is relevant, grounded in social justice and equity, and teacher-friendly. We constantly strive to improve our offerings based upon candidate and instructor feedback. ETFO firmly believes that you don’t get to be the best by being like the rest. Similarly, we also believe that once recognized as the best you should always work hard to be better – this is something we work at day in and day out. We are committed to continuing to work hard to ensure that teachers have access to the best professional learning in Ontario.
We encourage you to visit ETFO’s website (www.etfo.ca) for information about all our programs and services for educators in Ontario.
About AQs
ETFO AQ courses are unique from those offered by the other providers; this is because of what we call the ETFO edge.
AQs are offered by a variety of different providers: faculties of education, district school boards, and teacher affiliates. As one of the largest AQ providers in the province, ETFO makes its AQ offerings a superior learning experience by:
- having courses developed by educators who understand the realities of today’s classrooms;
- developing course content that is practical, well-grounded in effective practice, and has an appropriate balance between theory and practice;
- recognizing the delicate work/life balance of teachers; and
- reviewing courses regularly and updating them to make certain that the key learning, course activities, and resources remain current.
Our AQ courses are respectful of teacher professional judgement and honour adult learning principles. As the union representing 83,000 Ontario educators we understand the professional learning needs of today’s teachers.
ETFO AQ courses provide for a superior learning experience, they are also less expensive than those offered by other providers. We are committed to making professional learning affordable for all teachers in Ontario.
ETFO AQ courses meet the guidelines set out by the Ontario College of Teachers and are accredited by the College. Our courses involve 125 hours of study as required by legislation. Teachers may use ETFO AQ courses to improve their grid placement as identified by QECO or OSSTF. As each individual teacher has different requirements for salary grid advancement, we suggest you contact QECO or OSSTF to verify your grid advancement requirements PRIOR to registering for a course.