TORONTO: The Ontario government is providing more than $2 billion in new supports to advance and protect public education for the 2021-22 school year.
The support includes more than $1.6 billion in resources to respond to COVID-19 and an $85.5 million commitment to support learning recovery and renewal in response to the ongoing pandemic.
It also includes a $561 million increase to this year’s Grants for Student Needs, bringing the 2021-22 total GSN investment to $25.6 billion.
“Our government is investing more in public education than any government in Ontario history,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education.
“As we continue to work with the Chief Medical Officer of Health to evaluate the safe resumption of in-class learning, our number-one priority remains safety in the classroom. To deliver on that priority, our government is making more than $1.6 billion available to protect school safety while investing in the long-term success of students.”
While there is important progress being made in the delivery of vaccines, the health and safety of students and staff remains a top priority. In advance of the new school year, the Ontario government is providing a total of more than $1.6 billion in resources to protect schools against COVID-19.
Highlights include:
• $59 million in continued special education, mental heath, well-being and equity supports, the highest ever investment (including an annual $10 million investment as part of the GSN);
• $35 million in additional technology funding (including an annual $15 million to support technology such as devices for students in the GSN and $20 million in connectivity supports for remote learning technology);
• $20 million in new funding to support learning recovery and renewal;
• $29 million for increased costs related to school operations;
• $66 million for enhanced cleaning protocols and other health and safety measures in student transportation;
• $86 million for school-focused nurses in public health units and testing;
• $384 million in temporary COVID-19 staffing supports;
• Up to $450 million in personal protective equipment (PPE) and critical supplies and equipment, e.g. cleaning supplies provided through the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and the pandemic stockpile;
• Up to $508 million for school boards to access up to 2 per cent of reserves to support COVIDrelated expenses.
The Ontario government is supporting learning recovery and renewal by investing an additional $85.5 million to help students across the province address the effects of learning disruptions as a result of COVID-19. This learning recovery and renewal measures will include partnering with School Mental Health Ontario to support educators and enable timely interventions; additional teaching resources including math leads and coaches; and summer learning and special education supports, among other initiatives.
These steps will position Ontario as a leading jurisdiction in unveiling a suite of learning recovery initiatives in advance of the next school year.
With an increase in funding of $561 million, $25.6 billion is projected to be provided for the success and well-being of the province’s next generation through the GSN.
This historic level of support reflects the third straight year it has increased under the current government, and on a per-student basis is estimated to rise to $12,686, the highest amount ever.
Complementary to the GSN, Ontario’s Priorities and Partnerships Funding (PPF) enables school boards and third parties to undertake important curricular and extra-curricular initiatives that promote student success, development and leadership skills.
For the upcoming school year, the PPF will include over $288 million to fund approximately 150 initiatives that include a focus on strengthening math skills, access to mental health supports, anti-racism and support for children with disabilities.
The government has made unprecedented investments to support student mental health,
including over $80 million projected in 2021-22. For the 2021-22 school year, Ontario will also be providing school boards with $3.2 billion to support students with special needs.