Ontario expands school board support offices to solve issues faster

Ontario is expanding Student and Family Support Offices to all 72 school boards across the province to help parents resolve education concerns faster.

This will provide parents and families with a clear, effective way to get help regarding their child’s education and find solutions faster.

Starting on Tuesday, every school board has an office in place as an additional way to help families get answers on broader community concerns, navigate complicated issues and receive the information and support they need.

This initiative is one more way the government is delivering on its broader plan to make school boards more accountable and focused on student success, preparing them for rewarding careers.

“Parents should have a clear and consistent way to raise concerns and get answers when it comes to their child’s education,” said Education Minister Paul Calandra.

“We are strengthening accountability across our school boards and making sure families can get the support they need when they need it.”

Student and Family Support Offices review concerns raised by parents to help deal with matters that need to be escalated after an initial conversation with a child’s teacher and principal.

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Parents can expect to have their inquiries acknowledged within two business days, with the aim of an answer being provided in five business days.

When parents reach out, school boards will be expected to respond clearly and accurately, providing information that directly addresses the parent’s specific issue.

The Ministry of Education will collect information regularly from all 72 school boards.

Patterns and trends about the types of concerns parents are raising will be identified through this information, finding ways to improve processes to ensure students and families receive better support.

In supervised school boards, Student and Family Support Offices have already been in place, with 95 per cent of family inquiries acknowledged within two business days.

Additionally, nearly 90 per cent of inquiries received a response within five business days or an estimated response date for more complicated matters.

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