The Government of Saskatchewan announced this morning it is strengthening its oversight of all registered independent schools in the province.

Amendments are being made to The Registered Independent Schools Regulations and The Education Funding Regulations, 2018.

Starting this fall there will be new requirements for independent schools which the province says include mandatory administrative policies, similar to the requirements for Saskatchewan school divisions. Examples of administrative policies include an attendance policy, an extracurricular policy and a parent complaints and grievances policy.

Independent schools will also be subject to enhanced financial reporting requirements. As well, there must be defined separation of duties among its board, director and principal.

Starting in the 2024-25 school year, all qualified independent schools and certified independent schools must be registered as a separate non-profit organization from any parent organization.

A $25-million class-action lawsuit has been filed in connection with allegations of abuse at an independent school in Saskatoon. In the aftermath of the class-action lawsuit being filed the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, removed the teachers named in the lawsuit, from the classroom.

Government appointed administrators were also named last summer for three independent schools for the 2022-23 school year that currently have someone employed who was named in a recent lawsuit by former students at the private Christian Centre Academy, now Legacy Christian Academy.

The government also requires all independent schools to notify the ministry within 24 hours if there are allegations of criminal activity or a criminal charge of a staff member and now have the right to put schools on probation.