Education Funding Cuts
Ontario's education budget is larger in nominal dollars than it was in 2017-18, but independent and union-backed inflation-adjusted estimates show a widening funding gap. The CCPA calculated a cumulative $6.3B shortfall through 2025-26. For 2026-27, the province projected a 1% Core Education Funding increase while cutting the Classroom Staffing Fund by $56.2M. Under provincial supervision, the TDSB approved major staff and service reductions as Ontario's five education unions entered bargaining for more than 255,000 workers.
📚 An in effect Education policy from March 2019 · Implemented · Well sourced · Also seen in AB, SK
Updated · Created
"Investing in Education"
The government claims it is investing record amounts in education and modernizing Ontario's schools for the 21st century.
"$3.1 Billion Cut When You Account for Inflation"
Per-student funding has been cut approximately $1,500 in real terms since 2018. The government freezes or minimally increases grants while costs grow faster — a "cut without cutting" approach that allows claims of stable funding while actual purchasing power declines year after year.
- High school class sizes increased from average of 22 to 28 studentssource
- Ontario has lost 5,000 classroom educators since 2018source
- Ford government claims "record funding," delivers more public education cuts — $1,500 less per student in real termssource
- Ontario teachers rally demanding province increase education fundingsource
This section represents editorial interpretation of documented evidence.
Figures are approximate, using publicly available Ontario cost data.
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