Some Ontario Students Are Being Sent Home because Schools Can’t Meet Their Special Needs: Auditor
The report says EA absences averaged 18% last school year, and unfilled shifts left many students without needed classroom support.
- On Tuesday, Auditor General Shelley Spence released a report on special education, finding that Ontario schools face critical shortages of educational assistants as student special needs grow faster than overall enrolment.
- While government funding for special education increased 15 per cent between 2019-20 and 2023-24, total school board spending surged 19 per cent, yet boards face high EA absence rates averaging 18 per cent in 2023-24.
- Spence's audit of the Peel District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, and Upper Canada District School Board found that EA absences went unfilled between 49 and 72 per cent of the time.
- "Unfilled absences can result in students being left without the assistance they need to participate safely and meaningfully in classroom activities," Spence wrote, as increasingly complex student needs strain classroom management.
- Half of all elementary schools in one board remained understaffed, with some Peel District School Board locations managing nine high-needs students per assistant while others maintained one-to-one support.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Special education funding in Ontario falling short of growing need: auditor general
The number of Ontario students with special education needs is growing faster than overall enrolment, and some schools do not have enough educational assistants either full-time or on a daily basis, the province's auditor general has found.
Some Ontario students are being sent home because schools can’t meet their special needs: auditor
Students with special educational needs in three Ontario schools boards, including the TCDSB, are facing long wait times for help and sometimes being sent home because schools are unable to meet their needs, a new report from Ontario’s auditor general reveals.
Ontario auditor flags shortages of educational assistants for special needs students
The number of Ontario students with special education needs is growing faster than overall enrolment, and some schools do not have enough educational assistants either full-time or on a daily basis, the province's auditor general has found.
The Toronto Star
The RecordDozens of Ontario school boards spending $400 million more on special education than they receive in funding: auditor general
The province’s auditor general’s report also urges the government to address long wait-lists for assessments as well as create consistent levels of classroom care for kids.
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