ONTARIO 🎓👦👧💵 Ontario Increasing Funding to Boost Reading, Writing and Math

Thursday, 02 May 2024 02:29.PM

- Getting back-to-basics supported by the largest education investment in Ontario history -

With a focus on going back-to-basics and preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow, the Ontario government is increasing Core Education Funding for the coming school year by $745 million compared to 2023-24. Together with other investments, this represents $29 billion in total education funding and the largest investment in Ontario’s education system.

Ontario’s plan will support getting back-to-basics, provide mental health supports and build more schools, faster. For the 2024-25 school year, the Ontario government’s investments include:
• $34 million to support the hiring of 300 school math facilitators
• $13.5 million to fund school board math leads with a singular mandate to improve math skills
• $68.68 million for education staff to provide reading supports, including the hiring of over 600 more specialized educators
• $12.5 million for reading intervention support licences and $12.5 million for reading screening tools, so that every Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 child benefits from screening this coming school year
• An additional $80 million for the student transportation allocation, now at $1.3 billion, to better support reliable and safe transportation for students
• $10 million in new funding for school security infrastructure, including vape detectors
• $2.9 billion as part of the School Facilities Fund for operating, maintaining, renovating, and renewing school buildings
• Special Education funding is being increased to $3.5 billion, which includes an $11.5 million investment to support school boards’ ability to conduct professional assessments to hire more staff to help reduce wait times for speech and language supports. An additional $10 million this year is being invested as part of the Special Incidence Portion (SIP) modernization to support students with extraordinarily high needs.
• Mental Health funding is being increased to $117.65 million, an increase of 577 per cent since 2017-18. This includes $14 million that will provide students with mental health services over the summer months, including access to school-based mental health professionals, targeted programs and supports year-round in response to recommendations from families and student trustees.

In addition to Core Education Funding projected to be more than $28.6 billion in the next school year, Ontario is also projected to invest $403 million in 2024-25 for Responsive Education Programs and Funding to External Partners. This investment supports high impact initiatives through the province’s collaboration with education partners. This includes more than 150 projects focused on a wide range of themes, including student readiness, STEM, Indigenous education, mental health, literacy, French-language education, supporting vulnerable students and operations.

The province recently undertook a comprehensive review of education funding and recommended changes. The new Core Education Funding model now clearly identifies key funding pillars which support students – from classroom staffing to school board administration. These changes make it easier for parents and guardians to understand how funding is allocated and strengthens school board accountability on how these funds are spent.

“As we go back to basics in Ontario schools, we are stepping up with additional investment to boost reading, writing, math, and other STEM disciplines,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “We are also delivering a more transparent funding model while continuing to increase investment in publicly funded schools to the highest levels ever recorded, so that all students can graduate into good-paying careers. With historic investments to strengthen literacy and math skills, we are ensuring Ontario classrooms focus on improving the academic achievement of every Ontario student.”

In addition to the new funding model, Ontario is investing $1.3 billion through the 2023-24 Capital Priorities Program creating more than 27,000 new student spaces and more than 1,700 child care spaces. This is more than double the investment compared to last year and is the largest one-year funding commitment to new school construction in Ontario’s history. The province is investing a total of $1.4 billion in 2024-25 to help school boards revitalize and renew aged building systems and components. This is part of the province’s ongoing capital renewal funding initiative.

"I’m proud of the Government of Ontario for enhancing student mental health supports and increasing Special Education Funding to $3.5 billion as we also update the curriculum and deliver the largest-ever investment in Ontario’s education system. Our government understands that the education system can’t afford to leave anyone behind, and that students who receive the supports they need achieve better academic success. We are listening to families, and we are providing real support."
- MPP Natalie Pierre, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education

"At a time when Ontario is facing an historic shortage of skilled labour, we must prepare our young people for the jobs of the future, which means prioritizing STEM learning and financial literacy, and getting back to basics by drilling down on core reading, writing and math skills. While the previous government closed over 600 schools across the province, our government is building new schools, making the curriculum relevant to the 21st Century, and delivering the largest investment in public education in Ontario’s history."
- MPP Billy Pang, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education

Quick Facts

• For the 2024-25 school year, the Ministry of Education has updated the formulas in the Core Education Funding using most recent 2021 census data from Statistics Canada that better reflect the needs of students and school boards.
• Ontario provides annual funding for the province’s 72 district school boards and 10 school authorities to deliver education programs and services to more than two million students.
• Last year, The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 was passed to enhance transparency and strengthen accountability in schools. The goal is to ensure that all parts of the province’s publicly funded education system are collectively focused on what matters most: improving student achievement.
• In 2023, Ontario unveiled its plan to build modern schools faster. The new measures will reduce construction timelines by up to 50 per cent and get shovels in the ground more quickly.
• Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested more than $3.64 billion in capital construction projects in education, including 139 new schools, 109 additions and renovations to existing facilities and over 8,000 new licensed child care spaces.

"We appreciate this continued investment to enhance school mental health supports and services. It will help with daily efforts to provide evidence-informed mental health promotion and literacy across the province. Schools, with valued community partners, provide key mental health support every day to students."
- Kathy Short,Executive Director, School Mental Health Ontario

"School Bus Ontario (SBO) would like to thank Minister Lecce and his staff for their tireless work in helping the student transportation sector. The Minister has been an active listener and responded to SBO’s concerns - this announcement is welcome news and we are thankful for the ongoing support. We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the minister and his staff in the coming year."
- Nancy Daigneault, Executive Director, School Bus Ontario

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Education

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