The Quebec government wants to modernize the education system for the 21st century, and the first step is a series of public consultations.
The move comes after the government spent two years examining how to eliminate school boards only to give up the notion earlier this year.
Premier Philippe Couillard said Friday he wants to improve Quebec's notoriously poor high school graduation rates, and wants to use English school boards as an example.
"I like to look at it from the other angle: What can the English-speaking system teach us? Why is this difference in graduation rate?" said Couillard. In 2015, 77.7 percent of students graduated high school within seven years of entering grade 7.
Most English boards have graduation rates about 10 percentage points higher, with the best graduation rate in the province -- 87.9 percent -- being at the EMSB.
Only one francophone school board made the top five for graduation rates, a tendency which has been consistent for many years.
Couillard said there are many good things to learn from the best students and boards in the province, including before- and after-school programs, pre-kindergarten classes, and how to motivate students.
"It's not a question of language, it cannot be. It has to be the way the kids are looked after, kids with special needs in particular," said Couillard.
Representatives from the EMSB and Lester B Pearson boards said one aspect to examine is continual learning for teachers, with people saying teachers at the English boards are encouraged to work together and seek out new ways to teach subjects.
The consultations will take place across Quebec, both in person and online, until Nov. 10, with Education Minister Sebastien Proulx leading more discussion on Dec. 1.
