SHORTCHANGING ONTARIO STUDENTS AN OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION FUNDING IN ONTARIO

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO

This report was prepared for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario by Hugh Mackenzie.

August 2017 Cover photograph by Kathryn Gaitens Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario 136 Isabella Street Toronto ON M4Y 0B5 Phone: 416-962-3836 or 1-888-838-3836 Website: www.etfo.ca

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO

1

Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................1 KEY AREAS AFFECTED BY FUNDING CUTS................................................................................................................. 1 FINDINGS OF ROZANSKI TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION FUNDING ................................................................................. 2 FUNDING CHANGES UNDER THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT............................................................................................ 2 FUNDING HIGHLIGHTS ........................................................................................................................................ 3 FUNDING FOR GRADES 4 TO 8 .............................................................................................................................. 3 GAP BETWEEN FUNDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS ...................................................................... 3 STAFFING ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 CLASS SIZE ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 SPECIAL EDUCATION ........................................................................................................................................... 4 LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES GRANT ....................................................................................................................... 5 ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRANTS............................................................................................................ 6 LOCAL PRIORITIES .............................................................................................................................................. 6 SCHOOL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................................. 7 STUDENT TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................................ 7 DECLINING ENROLMENT...................................................................................................................................... 7 LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY ................................................................................................................................... 8 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................................... 8 EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA BACKGROUND .............................................................................. 10 CUTS IMPOSED BY THE PC GOVERNMENT............................................................................................................. 12 THE NEW FUNDING FORMULA – INITIAL DESIGN AND IMPACTS ........................................................ 12 POST-INTRODUCTION EVOLUTION OF THE FORMULA ....................................................................... 14 PC GOVERNMENT PERIOD ................................................................................................................................. 14 PC GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES ROZANSKI TASK FORCE TO REVIEW FUNDING FORMULA .............................................. 15 THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT PERIOD –