Understanding the issues facing public education in Ontario

Ontario’s cuts to public education and student financial aid threaten access to post-secondary learning, disproportionately affecting those who can least afford it. Recognizing these barriers is the first step toward creating a more equitable system.

Reduced funding and resource cuts

Budget reductions at both K–12 and post-secondary levels in Ontario have led to larger class sizes, fewer teachers and support staff, and cuts to essential programs and student services.

Some school boards report secondary class sizes exceeding 30 students, while nearly 50% of schools have reduced access to educational assistants or guidance counselors.

At the post-secondary level, rising tuition combined with changes to OSAP—shifting from grants to loans—has left students carrying an average debt of over $33,000 upon graduation. Current legislation, such as Bill 36 (Education Funding Reform Act, 2025), continues to limit per-student funding increases, further straining resources and affecting the quality of education and support available to students across Ontario.

Declining accessibility for students

Changes to OSAP and other financial aid programs—shifting from grants to loans—create significant barriers for low- and middle-income students, increasing long-term debt and limiting access to post-secondary education. These challenges are compounded by ongoing budget cuts in Ontario’s largest school boards: at the TDSB and TCDSB, reductions in funding have led to larger class sizes, fewer teachers and support staff, and cuts to programs and services that prepare students for post-secondary success. Together, these financial pressures at both the school board and post-secondary levels place students at a disadvantage, widening the gap in educational opportunities and threatening the future of the teachers and professionals of tomorrow.

Equity and inclusion challenges

Cuts and policy changes in Ontario’s public education system disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including Indigenous students, newcomers, and first-generation post-secondary learners. These groups already face systemic barriers to educational success, and reduced funding exacerbates social and economic inequities. For example, budget reductions in recent years have forced boards like the TDSB and TCDSB to cut programs for students with special needs, mental health services, and language supports critical for newcomers. In addition, reductions in school board governance—such as cuts to the number of trustees and administrative support—limit community oversight and reduce advocacy for vulnerable students, making it harder to respond to inequities. These combined pressures contribute to higher dropout rates, delayed post-secondary enrollment, and increased financial and social stress, further widening the gap in educational opportunities for those most at risk.

Bills to be aware of

1. Bill 101 – Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026

  • Status: Introduced April 2026
  • Purpose: Increase school board accountability and oversight
  • Major Provisions:
    • Creation of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) roles in school boards to manage budget development
    • CEOs can escalate unresolved budget matters to the Minister of Education
    • Introduction of mandatory written exams in Grades 9–12
    • reducing number of TDSB trustees from 24 to 12 in the 2nd largest district school board in North America
    • Capping remaining trustees honorariums at $10,000/year
  • Implications:
    •  Reduce trustee influence, Half number of trustees, less school representation
    • Standardized exams focus on measurable outcomes, possibly narrowing curriculum emphasis

2. Bill 33 – Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025

  • Status: Enacted 2025
  • Purpose: Centralize education policy control
  • Major Provisions:
    • Strengthened provincial oversight of school boards
    • Reduced decision-making power for elected trustees
  • Criticism:
    • Seen as top-down governance
    • Concerns about diminishing local democratic input
    • Bill 97 Plan to protect Ontario Act
    • Schedule makes various amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including the following:

         1.  Various provisions are amended to require that certain time limits established by the Act be calculated using business days.

         2.  The Act is amended to allow the head of an institution to, in certain circumstances, respond to requests for access to records by proposing a plan for providing access to the records in stages.

         3.  Currently, section 27 of the Act allows the head of an institution to extend the time limit set out in section 26 of the Act for responding to a request for access to records. Section 27 is amended to allow for an additional extension in certain circumstances.

         4.  Subsection 42 (1) of the Act is amended to allow personal information to be disclosed to an employee in a ministry of the Government of Ontario to permit continued access to an online account associated with the employee’s email address where there is a change to the ministry in which the employee is employed or where the employee is on temporary assignment from another ministry. This disclosure is subject to compliance with any guidelines established by the responsible minister.

         5.  Amendments are made to Part III.1 of the Act (Data Integration). These include amendments to change the manner in which the data standards, which govern various aspects of the treatment of personal information under that Part, are established and to remove the requirement for mandatory reviews of the practices and procedures of multi-sector data integration units.

         6.  Subsection 65 (18) is added to provide that the Act does not apply to a record in the custody of a minister or their office or a record under the control of a minister or their office unless the record is in the custody of an institution. New subsection 65 (19) clarifies that these exceptions apply even if the record is under the control of an institution. These new subsections also apply, with necessary modifications, with respect to a record in the custody or under the control of a parliamentary assistant appointed to assist a minister of the Crown or the parliamentary assistant’s office. Transitional rules are provided in new subsection 65 (21). These amendments are deemed to have come into force on January 1, 1988.

         7.  Section 65 of the Act is also amended to provide that the Act does not apply to certain records prepared or collected under the Enhancing Digital Security and Trust Act, 2024.

Take action for public education

After understanding these critical issues, we hope you feel informed, concerned, and empowered to act. Your voice and actions are vital in influencing policy decisions and helping to make education accessible for everyone in Ontario.

Here's how you can make a difference:

Learn more: Explore our additional resources about public education funding, OSAP, and equity in Ontario schools.

Share information: Raise awareness by talking to friends, family, or colleagues, or sharing content online to amplify the impact.

Take action: Contact your local representatives, participate in advocacy campaigns, or support organizations working to protect accessible, equitable public education.