Ford Government Launches Family Support Offices in Education Reform

The Ford government is initiating a significant reform in Ontario’s education system by establishing new Family Support Offices at each school board. These offices aim to address complex issues faced by parents and students that schools may struggle to resolve. The first offices are scheduled to open in January 2024 at five school boards currently under provincial supervision.

Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Education, stated that the Student and Family Support Offices will provide families with “clear answers and timely solutions” regarding their children’s education. This move is part of a broader effort to modernize the governance model of school boards, ensuring that more resources are allocated to classrooms and that teachers receive enhanced support.

Over the past year, Calandra has led a comprehensive overhaul of the province’s education framework. This has included placing five school boards—specifically the Dufferin-Peel Catholic, Ottawa-Carleton, Thames Valley, Toronto Catholic, and Toronto District School Board—under the oversight of supervisors appointed by Queen’s Park. Calandra has expressed doubts about returning these boards to local trustees, emphasizing the need for continued supervision.

The proposed legislation aims to simplify the process for the education minister to place additional boards under supervision, potentially eliminating the role of trustees in Ontario’s public education system altogether. Critics, including sidelined trustees and some parents, have voiced concerns about the current system. They argue that the provincial supervisors, who can charge up to $700,000 and claim $40,000 in expenses over two years, are not accessible enough to assist with student-related issues.

Ontario’s NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the government for removing locally accountable representatives, suggesting that this undermines community engagement. “It really feels like the minister of education doesn’t know what to do,” Stiles remarked, referring to the challenges stemming from the absence of local voices in educational governance.

The new Family Support Offices will acknowledge inquiries within two days and aim to provide responses within five days. School boards currently under supervision will implement their offices by January 2024, while those not under supervision must present a plan for their offices by March 2026, with a target opening date set for September 2026.

As the Ford government advances its education reform agenda, the impact on local governance and community involvement remains a critical point of discussion among stakeholders in Ontario’s education system.