We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience.
By selecting “Accept” and continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies.
I received my law degree from the University of Victoria in 1996, a Master's in Law from Osgoode Hall at York University in 2001, and a PhD in Educational Theory and Policy Studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at University of Toronto in 2011. I was a MITACS postdoctoral fellow in 2014.
I have worked in diverse roles that combine education, law and public policy. This includes serving as the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Future Skills Centre and Director of Research for People for Education, serving as the first Policy Counsel for the new government of Nunavut; a founder and Northern Director of Akitsiraq Law School in Iqaluit, Nunavut; working in a domestic violence family legal aid clinic in Brooklyn, New York.
I am the author of two books: Succeeding Together: Schools, Child Welfare and Uncertain Public Responsibility for Abused and Neglected Children (University of Toronto Press), and Pushing the Limits: How Schools Can Prepare Our Children Today for Tomorrow's Challenges (Random House Canada, with Nancy Steinhauer). Pushing the Limits was shortlisted for the Donner Prize for the best Public Policy Book by a Canadian. I have also written over 40 articles and reports on diverse topics.
The main focus of my research is inequality, particularly in educational settings and involving children, youth and families. I've done research on schools and child welfare, "streaming" and systemic discrimination, the policy and data infrastructure required to understand equity of access to postsecondary education, and the connections between playground quality, health and poverty in Ontario.
A major focus for me right now is educational responses to the emergency of the pandemic on schooling.
- Visiting Scholar, UNESCO Institute for Educational Planning (Winter 2022)
- Shortlisted for Donner Prize for best Public Policy Book by a Canadian.
- MITACS Elevate Post-doctoral Fellowship, 2013/14
- Leithwood Award for Outstanding Thesis, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
- Greenfield Award for Outstanding Dissertation, Canadian Association for Studies in Educational Administration
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada Graduate Scholarship and Aid to Scholarly Publishing Grant
Books
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2017). Succeeding together: Schools, child protection and public responsibility for children’s well-being. University of Toronto Press.
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. and Steinhauer, N. (2017). Pushing the Limits: How schools can prepare our children today for tomorrow's challenges, Toronto: Doubleday.
Selected Research and Evaluation Reports
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. & S. Sider. (2022) Educational Recovery and Reimagining in the Wake of COVID-19: Principles and Proposals from a Multi-stakeholder workshop. Waterloo: Laurier Centre for Leading Research in Education. https://researchcentres.wlu.ca/centre-for-leading-research-in-education/if-i-had-1.08-billion-dollars.html
- Gallagher-Mackay, K., *Corso, C. & Shubat, T. (2021). Schoolyards count: Quality and Equity in Ontario schoolyards. Toronto: Ophea. www.ophea.net/schoolyardscount
- Gallagher-Mackay, K., Brown,R.S., Presley, A., Cameron,D.H., Bredin, S., Collimore,L., Conley,C., *Corso,C., Glisic, M., Hollingshead,L., Malik,S., Murray,L., and Sinay, E. (2021). Learning models, absenteeism and kindergarten enrolment in fall 2020: Report from the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton School Board Collaborative on Schooling during COVID-19. Toronto: Toronto District School Board. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/research/Research/School-During-the-Pandemic/Greater-Toronto-Area-and-Hamilton-GTAH-School-Board-Collaboration-on-Schooling-During-COVID-19
- Gallagher-Mackay, K., Dhuey, E., Hawke, L., McCready, L.T., Oates, S., Sander, B., Srivastava, P., Underwood, K. (2021). COVID-19 and Educational Disruption in Ontario: A rapid review of research and emerging evidence on impacts. Toronto: Ontario Scientific Advisory Table Science Brief. https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Science-Brief_Education_20210604_published-1.pdf ; https://doi.org/10.47326/ocsat.2021.02.34.1.0
- Sansone, G., Fallon, B., Birken, C., Miller, S.P., Gallagher-Mackay, K., Sajedinejad, S., Jenkins, J., & Davies, S. (2021). Effects of School Closures During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Achievement Gaps and Learning Inequalities: Policy Implications. Toronto, Ontario: Policy Bench, Fraser Mustard Institute of Human Development, University of Toronto.
- Welch, V., Mathew, C., Marins, L.M., Ghogomu, E., Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2020). Adult Skills Development and Training: A Campbell Evidence and Gap Map. Campbell Collaboration. Oslo: Norway. (publication pending).
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. & Brown, R.B. (2021) Impact of COVID-19 on Grade 12 Grades and Credit Accumulation: Preliminary findings from Toronto. Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. https://heqco.ca/pub/the-impact-of-school-closures-and-emergency-remote-learning-on-grade-12-students-in-spring-2020-preliminary-findings-from-toronto/
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. & Brown, R.B. (2021) Impact of COVID-19 on Post-Secondary Access: Preliminary findings from Toronto. Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council. https://heqco.ca/pub/the-impact-of-school-closures-and-emergency-remote-learning-on-postsecondary-transitions-in-2020-21-findings-from-toronto/
- Yau, M., Mundy, K., Gallagher-Mackay, K. & Ta, T.* (2022). An ecosystem map and analysis of community-based tutoring in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto: Diversity Institute. https://www.ryerson.ca/diversity/reports/an-ecosystem-map-and-analysis-of-community-based-tutoring-in-toronto/
- Gallagher-Mackay, K., Mundy, K., Feitosa de Britto, T.*, & Asim, M.*, (2022). What can Canada learn from the evidence on tutoring as an approach to accelerating learning and addressing educational inequities during its COVID-19 recovery? A review of the literature. Toronto: Diversity Institute. https://www.ryerson.ca/diversity/reports/the-evidence-for-tutoring-to-accelerate-learning-and-address-educational-inequities-during-canada-s-pandemic-recovery/
- Proulx, K., Mundy, K., Asim, M.* & Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2022). Universal evaluation toolkit for academic tutoring programs. https://www.ryerson.ca/diversity/reports/universal-evaluation-toolkit-for-academic-tutoring-programs/
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2019). “Assosa Refugee Camps: Health & Gender Rights for Women & Girls: An educational innovation to address reproductive and mental health needs of refugee women.” Addis Ababa: Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Cooperation
- Gallagher-Mackay, K., (2019) “Roadmaps and Roadblocks: Career and Life Planning, Guidance and Streaming in Ontario’s Schools”. People for Education
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2017) Data infrastructure for equity in post-secondary access: current opportunities, priorities and challenges , Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario.
- Gallagher-Mackay, with Cameron, D., Granofsky, D., Hart, D., Kidder, A. Proulx, K. and Strachan, J. (2014) Measuring what matters: Report on public engagement in a broader measure of success (2014) Toronto, ON: People for Education
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2013). Measuring what matters: a discussion paper for building a broader measure of success. Toronto, ON: People for Education.
- People for Education. Annual Report on Ontario’s Publicly Funded Schools, 2014-15 (co-author); 2013-2014; 2012-2013; 2011-12; 2010-11; and 2009-10 (co-author and research director)
Selected Articles in Refereed Journals
- Brown, R., Gallagher-Mackay, K., Parekh, G. (2020) Redefining risk: Human Rights and elementary school predictors of post-secondary access. Education Policy Analysis Archives, https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.28.4200
- The duty to report child abuse and neglect and the paradox of non-compliance: Relational theory and ‘compliance’ in the human services. Journal of Law and Policy, 36(3), 256-289. (2014).
- From equal access to individual exit: The invisibility of systemic discrimination in Moore v. B.C. Canadian Journal of Law and Equality, 10, 93-123. (2013, with J. Birenbaum).
- Pursuing equity in and through teacher education program admissions. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 19(24), 1-22. (2011, with R.Childs and K.Broad).
- Thomas Berger’s ‘The Nunavut Project: Conciliator’s Final Report’ Canadian Journal of Education 30(4), 1093-1104 and “Reply to John Bainbridge” (2008) Canadian Journal of Education, 31(3) 767-772.
- Affirmative Action and Self-Government: The Case for Legal Education in Nunavut. Canadian Journal of Law and Society, 14(2), 1-36. (2011).
Recent articles in magazines and journals
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2022). Ontario’s tutoring investment is big money with low expectations and limited equity. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2022/tutoring-investment-ontario/
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. & *Corso C. (2022). Taking Action to Limit Learning Impacts from the Pandemic: In the face of widespread impacts on learning, other countries are investing in effective strategies. Education Canada. https://www.edcan.ca/articles/taking-action-to-limit-learning-impacts-from-the-pandemic/
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. & *Corso, C. 'Playground politics’ are anything but: For health's sake, Ontario students need better. The Conversation. Week of November 1. https://theconversation.com/playground-politics-are-anything-but-for-healths-sake-ontario-students-need-better-schoolyards-170005
- Gallagher-Mackay, K. (2020). Are students and educators learning during the pandemic? Policy Options. policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2020/are-students-and-educators-learning-during-the-pandemic/
Introduction to Law and Society
Introduction to the Canadian Legal System
Ethics and Professionalism
Families and the Law
Topics in Advanced Legal Theory: Regulatory Theory
- CBC The National: Learning Curve
- Toronto Star. How schools are dealing with learning loss from the pandemic.
- TVO The Agenda. Did the election forget education?
- CBC Ontario Today. (Guest Expert). Should we eliminate the EQAO tests?
- TVO The Agenda. Should Ontario reinstate Grade 13?
- Globe & Mail. (co-author) Canada needs to invest in tutoring for students falling behind during the pandemic.
- TVO The Agenda. Schoolyard Quality Fix Needed.
- Schoolyards Count on the Radio: 900 CMHL, Newstalk1010, Citynews 570, CBC Drive-home shows in London, Windsor, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Kitchener, Toronto.
- CBC TV & Online: Ontario Schoolyards ‘wasting an opportunity’ for active play and need upgrading, report says
- Toronto Star: (co-author) School closures have been hard on students and the economy
- Toronto Star: Extreme absenteeism way up during pandemic, research on GTA boards finds.
- Macleans. The lost year in education. Education disruption is the shadow pandemic.
- CTV News: Ontario Science Table warns of potential for long-term effects from school closures
- Globe and Mail: (author) Kids are falling behind in school due to the pandemic – and it’s a huge problem
- TVO The Agenda: School Vouchers Anyone?
- TVO The Agenda: Private Partnerships, Public Education?
- Toronto Star: Do Ontario Schoolyards Make the Grade?
- CBC Toronto: Schoolyards Count
- Globe and Mail: (co-author) The birds, the bees and the schools of the future
- National Post: (co-author) Innovative approach to math helps indigenous schools push the limits
- Toronto Star: (author) Time to eliminate publicly funded Catholic school funding in Ontario
- Globe and Mail: (co-author) Surfing lessons
- The Walrus: (co-author) Posts by Kelly Gallagher-Mackay
- Global News: Pushing the limits of education (video)
- National Post: Future of education is creativity, social-emotional learning: new book
- City Breakfast Television: 'Pushing the Limits' authors stress importance of our school system
- Globe and Mail: Toronto School Sparks Cross-Country Movement
- Toronto Star: (author) Private refugee sponsorships need political boost not stalling
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. 2022. ($49,518) Mapping the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on postsecondary access in COVID-19 School Year 2 (2020-21). (PI)
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. 2020. ($56,161). Mapping the impacts of COVID shutdown on early school leaving and postsecondary applications: Implications for Access. (PI)
Toronto District School Board. 2020. ($24,500). Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area School Board Collaboration on COVID-19 Impacts on Learning. (PI)
Future Skills Centre/Diversity Institute. ($100,000). Tutoring in the Time of COVID-19. (Co-applicant)
Ontario Bar Association. 2019. Chief Justice Fellowship in Legal Ethics. ($15,000). Barriers facing internationally trained law graduates entering the Ontario Legal Profession. (PI - declined)
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Partnership Engage Grant 2018 ($24,990) Citizen scientists investigate school playground quality: equity in opportunities for play, learning and activity at school. (PI - complete)
Wilfrid Laurier University, Community and Well-being Research Grant, 2018 ($2500) International Law School Partnerships and Undergraduate Arts Education: Mechanisms and Dynamics of Internationalization and Professionalization. (PI - complete)
Law Society of Upper Canada
Canadian Law and Society Association
Canadian Association for Legal Ethics
Canadian Association for Studies in Educational Administration / Canadian Education Researchers Association
American Educational Research Association
Association of Education Researchers of Ontario
Contact Info:
F: 519.759.2127
Office location: RCE209
Office hours: Thursdays, 4 p.m., or by appointment.
Languages spoken: English, French