Education Pluralism
We suggest:
- The independent school sector is an important contributor to the public good in Canada. It should receive the appropriate government and public support.
- Educational pluralism should be encouraged.
- Canadian parents should be able to choose the type of school (including homeschooling) that they believe is best for their children.
Supporting Research

Start Here
Derek Allison
September 4, 2014
What is Ontario going to do about its private schools? Cardus explores the need for a serious policy review in this discussion paper by Dr. Derek Allison, emeritus professor in the education faculty at Western University.
"Something of a chilly climate has developed toward non-public schools in Ontario," writes Allison. This report argues to politicians, bureaucrats, and fellow citizens that both private and public education are goods that can be intertwined and made interdependent to foster a stable, orderly, and integrated society.

Andrew Bennett
January 26, 2022
Are students in public schools receiving the necessary formation that will support their participation in a society that is becoming increasingly diverse in religious expression? Instructing the next generations not in a religion but about religion should be a key element of Canadian education.

Paul Marcus,
Nicole Brouwer,
Deani Van Pelt,
Tena Boven,
David Hunt
August 20, 2021
This report explores how learning continued in Ontario’s independent schools during the continuous and disruptive school closures of the 2020–21 school year. It also investigates the financial, promotional, and business impact of these disruptions.
Explorations

March 8, 2022
Imagine a room full of over 1,200 Christian education leaders from around the world? Now, imagine this near a beach in sunny Southern California in early March? Cardus and eleven other organizations across the globe will descend on San Diego to bring Converge 2022 to life. Join us for a week of 50+ TED talks, panels, workshops, and most especially, connecting with fellow Christian education leaders – in-person!

June 22, 2021
Join us as we Exit COVID: Toward what matters most.

June 10, 2021
How did independent schools successfully respond to lockdowns and the pandemic? As we look to exit COVID, what can all schools learn from their pivot? Join us and a panel of experts for an encouraging and hope-filled discussion, based on Cardus’ latest research.
Media Coverage


April 7, 2022
Before the next public health crisis hits (or the current situation gets worse), Ontario should ask some hard questions about why its education system struggled to serve students well during repeated shut-downs and why independent schools seem to have fared far better, writes Cardus researcher Joanna DeJong VanHof.
Photo by YY TEOH on Unsplash


March 14, 2022
"Allowing parents to find the best fit for their child(ren) is in the public interest," writes Cardus President and CEO Michael Van Pelt in the Calgary Herald. "These options are all part of public education. Funding them or allowing them to expand will improve public education, not undermine it."


February 18, 2022
"Rather than abolishing taxpayer-funded Catholic schools, let’s let funding follow all students to their best-fit school — including religious independent schools," argues David Hunt, program director for Cardus Education.
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash
Education Pluralism
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What else are we working toward?
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects