Ontario is set to launch Student and Family Support Offices within school boards as part of a broader restructuring of the province’s education governance model.
The initiative, announced by Education Minister Paul Calandra, aims to give parents a direct pathway to escalate concerns beyond their individual school when issues remain unresolved.
The first offices will open in January within the five school boards currently under provincial supervision:
Toronto District School Board
Toronto Catholic District School Board
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board
Thames Valley District School Board
All remaining school boards will be required to establish offices by September 1, 2026.
Minister Calandra says the new system is designed to increase accountability, streamline communication, and ensure parents receive timely answers.
The move comes as the government accelerates legislation making it easier to place boards under supervision—a measure Calandra has suggested could be used more frequently going forward.
Opposition parties, however, warn the province is undermining local democracy.
The province maintains that redirecting resources and decision-making away from board administration and into classrooms will ultimately improve student outcomes.