Research

Explore innovative practices and trends shaping the future of independent education. Up-to-the-minute research shines a light on the landscape of independent schools in Canada.

Pandemic Fallout

A newly-published Cardus study by Dr. Paul W. Bennett investigates the very real fallout from COVID-19 within education communities across Canada. The concept of "education's long COVID" is explored, along with the impact on a pandemic generation of students. Topics include measurable learning loss, stunted social development, and mental-health side effects. Read the full report here.

Charting New Horizons for Independent Education in Canada

This recently published paper, adapted from a lecture by Deani Van Pelt, a Cardus Senior Fellow, and the President of Edvance Christian Schools Association, offers perspectives on current trends in independent education in North America. It examines the goals of education in two tributaries: the formation of a person's body mind and spirit, as well as the formation of citizens as contributors to society. The paper also indicates how independent schools are seeing a rise in newly established types of schools, increased enrolment, greater research, and a renewed interest in philanthropic and corporate support of new forms of education. Read the full report here.

Naturally Diverse: The Landscape of Independent Schools in Ontario

David Hunt, Joanna DeJong VanHof and Jenisa Los. “Naturally Diverse: The Landscape of Independent Schools in Ontario.” Cardus, 2022. https://www.cardus.ca/research/education/research-report/naturally-diverse/.

What are independent schools? This study introduces a new typology to describe Ontario’s independent schools, and uses this typology to aggregate the school-level data and chart the landscape of independent schools in the province as of 2022. Read the full report here.

Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022

Michael Zwaagstra, Joel Emes, Evin Ryan, and Milagros Palacios. “Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022.” Fraser Institute, 2023. https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/where-our-students-are-educated-measuring-student-enrolment-in-canada-2022

This study measures the degree to which Canadians in each province choose between the three principal ways of educating their children: public schools, independent schools, and homeschooling. The study covers the period from 2000–01 to 2019–20. Read the full report here.