Demand: The Ontario government must restore per-student funding to pre-2018 levels (adjusted for inflation) and commit to long-term, sufficient, stable investment in public education.

Why it matters: This year, schools have $1,500 less funding per student. Teachers and education workers are suffering these cuts while also dealing with larger class sizes, fewer support staff, and increasing levels of violence.  

By law, all school boards in Ontario have to submit a balanced budget to the Ministry by the end of June.  Because of this requirement, the TDSB (and many other school boards) have been submitting balanced budgets over many years which include “cuts.”  

As noted by the Ontario Public School Boards Association, “Funding, when adjusted for inflation, now sits at $11,506.03, a gap of $776.41 per student. This is the lowest level of per pupil funding in more than 10 years.”

Demand: Fully fund the urgent repairs needed in 84% of Toronto schools and create a transparent, accountable plan to eliminate the $21 billion provincial school repair backlog.

Why it matters: Crumbling schools with broken heating and ventilation systems, leaking roofs, and unsafe conditions are worsening learning conditions for our students.  Every dollar invested into public education is an investment for our collective future. 

Demand: Legislate a commitment that education funding will never fall below the rate of inflation and that addresses the structural deficit faced by the TDSB and TCDSB manufactured by the provincial government.  

Why it matters: Without a long-term funding guarantee, schools will continue to face cuts and uncertainty, leading to instability for students and educators.  

Currently, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) employer-side payroll increases are not funded by the provincial government.  School boards (like all employers) are required by law to pay these.  The CPP has been gradually increasing from 4.95% in 2019 to 5.95% in 2023. This increase, mandated by the federal government, costs school boards more every year.