Ontario’s Ministry of Education has mandated all school boards in the province to establish specialized offices to address concerns previously raised by parents with their children’s teachers. The provincial government made this directive known on Thursday.
Five school boards, which were placed under provincial control earlier this year due to suspected mismanagement, are required to have these offices operational by January. These boards include the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, Toronto District School Board, and Toronto Catholic District School Board.
All other school boards are expected to have these offices up and running by September 1, 2026. Each office will be overseen by a supervisor, committed to responding to inquiries within two business days and aiming to provide resolutions within five business days, as per a ministry news release.
These offices are intended to provide families with additional support in addressing broader community concerns and handling complex issues that may arise after engaging with the school directly. The specifics of the offices at the five supervised school boards will be available on their respective websites by January 19, as per the province’s announcement.
Minister Paul Calandra emphasized that the establishment of these “student and family support offices” is part of an ongoing initiative to modernize the school board governance model. He expressed that these offices will offer families clear answers and prompt solutions concerning their child’s education.
The Progressive Conservative government is also expediting a bill that would simplify the process for the education minister to place school boards under supervision. Calandra hinted that once the bill is passed, more school boards may come under government control.
In response to these developments, Liberal education critic John Fraser voiced concerns that the government may be planning to take over additional boards, criticizing what he perceives as a lack of respect for local democracy. NDP Leader Marit Stiles raised questions about the clarity of Calandra’s plan, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency.
The Green Party of Ontario emphasized in a news release that the newly established offices should not be used as a pretext to eliminate trustee positions.