• Helped to Obtained GST Exemption on tuition payments. Assisted with negotiations in co-operation with the Federation of Independent Schools of Canada (FISC)(1988).
• Participated in health care funding negotiations which prepared the groundwork for extension of health benefits within independent schools (2000).
• Supported the 1992 Supreme Court of Ontario case and ruling that acknowledges that the rights of independent school parents were being violated.
• Acted as partners in the 1995 Supreme Court of Canada case which resulted in a ruling that the Ontario Government could support independent schools without infringing on the constitutionally guaranteed rights granted to Roman Catholic schools under the Education Act of 1867.
• Initiated policy discussions between the Ministry of Education and the Home-schooling groups for greater recognition.
• Worked with other independent school associations to negotiate the tax credit criteria (2001) under the brief Equity in Education Tax Credit.
• Established the Independent School Principals' Course to provide resources to school leaders on running a school as an effective business
• Established the Independent School Management Review to provide as assessment tool for schools to reach growth targets
• Developed Staff Benefits Group Insurance for OFIS members
• Developed Commercial Liability Group Insurance for OFIS members
• Worked in cooperation with other school assocations to reverse government decision to alter the NOI form with respect to teacher qualifications and school insurances

OFIS is a proud member of the Independent School Associations Of Ontario (ISAO)

• Growing the number of partnerships OFIS has with other independent school associations, professional associations and provincial groups to create a greater collective of people advocating for equitable treatment for all students in the province regardless of what kind of school they attend and to increase public awareness for the valuable contributions independent schools make to the province
• Pursuing public awareness activities, media campaigns and government advocacy to achieve legal recognition and fair funding for independent education (right now we are participating in the public debate on full-day jk and sk - prosposed by the Ontario government).
• Working with other independent school groups to reclaim recently removed french education grants from the federal government (Heritage Fund Grants)
• Creating a network of regional support groups for OFIS schools to discuss school issues, share resources and ideas
• Pressuring the Ontario government to report and make public on their website EQAO results for private schools
• Ensuring that schools who currently enjoy GST rebates on school related purchases continue to do so after the implementation of the provincial Harmonzied Sales Tax (HST) in July 2010

OFIS And ISAO Respond to Education Minister's Accusations About "Easy Marks" In Independent High Schools

Click Here - Read About Policy Changes For Fall '09