Halt of all community Pupil Accommodations Reviews while enhancing funding supports for Ontario students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, ON — The Ontario Student Trustees’ Association – l’Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l’Ontario (OSTA-AECO) supports the Government of Ontario’s announcement on the funding for Rural and Northern Ontario school communities and review of the Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines.
Outlined in the changes, Rural and Northern school boards will see more funding per pupil to be allocated for school authorities to enhance programming, special education support, better transportation for students, among many more supports for Ontario’s students. Additionally, the changes include the halt of all Pupil Accommodation Reviews set to take place across the province while the Ministry of Education improves the Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines.
“The proposed plan to revise the Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines and changes to rural student funding sends a strong message to ensure that the students in Rural and Northern school boards receive the support necessary to foster their achievement,” said OSTA-AECO President Kayvon Mihan. “We look forward to working with school boards across Ontario and all of Ontario’s Student Trustees to ensure that these supports continue to keep school communities together and further enhance student success and well-being.”
OSTA-AECO realizes the challenges to Rural and Northern School Boards and the need to further enhance the support to every school community in Ontario. Students deserve to have access to equal opportunity, regardless of their location within Ontario. OSTA-AECO also acknowledges the importance of local integrated planning and the need for school boards to work collaboratively through community partnerships.
OSTA-AECO commits to working with the Government of Ontario and provincial educational partners to ensure that Rural and Northern school communities continue to receive the support they need while ensuring as many schools as possible continue to keep their doors open to students. OSTA-AECO looks forward to continuing to engage and listen to students across Ontario, specifically in Rural and Northern Ontario to further advocate on their behalf and ensure their voices are heard on a provincial level.
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