Following two years of global learning disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government announced record education funding of $26.6 billion for the 2022-23 school year. The funding will support learning recovery and fund mental health supports for students to allow a return to a more normal school year next year.
As part of the announcement, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce recently unveiled Ontario’s Learning Recovery Action Plan – a five-point plan to strengthen learning recovery in reading and math, anchored by the largest provincial investment in tutoring supports, summer learning and mental health.
“COVID-19 has impacted every single person living in Ontario, including students,” said Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte. “These investments will ensure students in our region have access to the supports they need to recover from the pandemic disruptions so that they can reach their full potential. Recognizing the importance of mental health, our government is also providing additional resources to ensure students feel safe and supported at school.”
For students in the five school boards with schools in Bay of Quinte, GSN funding will total $1,459,378,023, allocated as follows:
- $156,410,294 for the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, including $2 million in learning recovery funding, $20.4 million in special education funding, $963,000 in mental health and well-being funding, and $11.7 million in transportation funding. (2021-2022 projection: $153,228,123)
- $273,045,744 for Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario, including $2.78 million in learning recovery funding, $31.3 million in special education funding, $1.2 million in mental health an well-being funding, and $16.5 million in transportation funding. (2021-2022 projection: $262,858,884)
- $389,994,108 for Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, including $3.9 million in learning recovery funding, $48.7 million in special education funding, $1.7 million in mental health and well-being funding, and $20.7 million in transportation funding. (2021-2022 projection: $376,955,541)
- $205,170,155 for the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, including $2.5 million in learning recovery funding, $26.5 million in special education funding, $1 million in mental health and well-being funding, and $15.6 million in transportation funding. (2021-2022 projection: $199,663,052)
- $434,757,722 for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, including $4.97 million in learning recovery funding, $56.2 million in special education funding, $1.7 million in mental health and well-being funding, and $24.4 million in transportation funding. (2021-2022 projection: $416,939,832)
“No government in Ontario history has invested more in public education, tutoring supports, mental health, and special education than ours led by Premier Ford,” said Lecce. “We are bridging learning gaps that have emerged over the past years through a massive increase in small group tutoring programs and through the expansion of mental health supports to benefit children across all schools in Ontario.”
