Annual Ontario School Survey

Keeping track of the essential resources and programs in Ontario’s schools, and how they are affected by changes to provincial policy and funding.

2018 report on Ontario’s schools
to be released on June 25

Our Annual Ontario School Survey (AOSS) provides an evidence-based, objective perspective on the impact of policy and funding changes on vital areas of public education, including special education, guidance counsellors, Indigenous education, childcare, fundraising, health, and the arts.

Each year, we publish a report on the data we collect, along with other research findings.

This year, for the first time, we are releasing our report via Facebook Live and Twitter Live, so that you can join the conversation in real time, share your thoughts, and ask questions about the findings. Join us on Monday, June 25, at noon to learn more about this year’s report.

It is easy to participate!

Follow along on our Facebook page or Twitter timeline, starting at noon.
Use the hashtag #AOSS18 when you post your questions and comments.

Mark your calendars and join us online on June 25.

Are you a school principal?

You can participate in this research initiative by completing the Ontario School Survey.

The information from the surveys provides an evidence-based, objective perspective on the impact of policy and funding changes on vital areas of public education, such as teacher-librarians, special education support services, and educational assistants.

Thank you to all of the survey participants and our funding partners for supporting this unique research project.

Highlights from PFE's 2016/17 Annual Ontario School Survey

This year's survey results reveal ongoing challenges in a number of areas, including demands created by competing and overlapping provincial initiatives, ongoing regional inequities, and growing gaps in schools’ fundraising.

The report shows a decline in specialist library and music teachers, but a substantial improvement in Indigenous education programs.

Read the 2017 Annual Report

Read report Read the quick facts

52%of elementary schools have a teacher-librarian, either full- or part-time.

Top 5%of fundraising secondary schools raise as much as the bottom 83% combined.

61%of elementary schools report that they do not have sufficient access to a psychologist to support students.

Annual Ontario School Survey research

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education: Overcoming gaps in provincially funded schools

This report uses data from our annual Ontario School Survey to identify and address some of the gaps in Indigenous education in provincially funded schools.

March 1, 2013 PFE Reports

Our data, in the real world.

Data from our survey is used by researchers, media, and other organizations.

Globe and Mail article on school fundraising

This article looks at the equity concerns raised by the fundraising data from our 2016/17 school survey.

Read the article

Ontario Library Association information sheet

Data from our survey about teacher librarians is included in this information sheet about school libraries.

Read the tip sheet

Toronto Star article on guidance counsellors

This article talks about the findings from our report on career and life-planning in schools.

Read the article

Annual Ontario School Survey in the news

Another school fundraiser? Rethinking funding for education

This article in Today's Parent cites our research data on school fundraising.

April 24, 2018 People for Education in the news

Arts education squeezed out across Ontario schools, new report says

New data from People for Education show that, despite the widely recognized importance of arts education, equitable access to arts programs and resources is an ongoing challenge for Ontario’s schools.

April 3, 2018 People for Education in the news

New report raises concerns about equity in arts education

April 3, 2018 Media releases

View More News

The story behind the survey

For over 20 years, People for Education has been using our annual school surveys to keep track of the effects of policy and funding changes in Ontario’s publicly funded schools.

In 1997, we asked parents and teachers across the province to send us their stories, because we wanted to know if the funding cuts that were being imposed at the time had an impact on students and schools. We were overwhelmed with the response. Stories came in from across the province, and revealed shared concerns about the impact of funding cuts on things like special education, libraries, music, and physical education programs.

In order to see the impact of policy and funding changes over time, we developed a survey to track the key staff and programs in elementary schools across Ontario. In 1998, the first Tracking Report was published, based on the results of the survey. It formed the baseline to monitor changes to funding and programs across the province.

In 2000, we developed a similar survey for secondary schools.

Our school survey reports have become a trusted source of information about Ontario’s schools, and have had an impact on policy and funding decisions.