Source: specialneedsontario.ca
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says a new report from Ontario’s Auditor General confirms the province’s special education system is in crisis.
In a strongly worded response released Tuesday, ETFO accused the Ford government of chronically underfunding special education while leaving students with disabilities without adequate classroom supports.
The auditor’s report examined whether Ontario schools and the Ministry of Education have appropriate systems in place to support students with special education needs.
Among the findings were long waits for specialist assessments, with roughly one third of students waiting more than a year for formal assessments.
The report also found inconsistent standards for identifying and supporting students, widespread staffing shortages and gaps in teacher training related to individualized education plans.
According to the audit, staff absences and vacancies went unfilled by qualified workers between 49 and 72 per cent of the time.
The report further found some students with special needs were sent home or encouraged to stay home without proper documentation or tracking by schools.
ETFO President David Mastin says the findings expose what he describes as years of government neglect and policy decisions that have stripped supports from classrooms.
The union points to financial pressures facing school boards, noting 46 of Ontario’s 72 boards collectively spent nearly 400 million dollars more on special education than they received in provincial funding during the 2023-24 school year.
ETFO is calling for increased funding, more specialized staff, reduced assessment wait times and class size caps, arguing students with disabilities are continuing to fall through the cracks in Ontario’s education system.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
