People for Education’s survey data shows that over the last 10 years, there has been an increase in the number of students per school accessing special education resources.

In 2014, the province announced major changes to special education funding to be rolled out over the next four years. The overall level of special education funding has stayed the same, but the way that funding is distributed among boards has changed. The goal was to make the funding more responsive to boards’ and students’ needs. These changes have resulted in some boards getting more funding, while others receive less. Principals’ comments on our 2017 Annual School Survey illustrate how these changes have impacted Ontario’s public schools (for more information, see the report).

In 2017, an average of 9 students per elementary and 7 students per secondary school were waiting for professional assessment, IPRC, or placement. Based on available resources, some boards limit the number of students that principals can put forward for assessment each year.

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In 2017:

• 64% of elementary and 55% of secondary schools report restrictions on the number of students who can be assessed each year, an increase from 50% and 47%, respectively, in 2012.
• The percentage of elementary schools reporting limits on the number of students who can be assessed ranges from 83% in eastern Ontario to 49% in the GTA.