Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Chapter 6: Elementary and Secondary Education
Chapter 6: Elementary and Secondary Education
2010–11 Spending $21.9 billion
Average Annual Growth Rate in Spending,
2001–02 to 2010–11 4.6%
Projected Average Annual Spending Growth
Rate Under Status Quo, 2010–11 to 2017–18 4.2%
Average Annual Spending Growth Rate Cap
Consistent with Return to a Balanced
Budget in 2017–18 1.0%
Since their development in the mid-19th century, publicly funded schools have been a
cornerstone of Ontario’s public services. With the rise of the knowledge economy, a strong
education system is more critical than ever to Ontario’s prosperity and global competitiveness.
The importance of a strong foundation through education and the progress made in Ontario’s
education system in recent years must be kept in mind when considering how to meet
Ontario’s fiscal challenges. Still, we believe that this era of restraint presents an opportunity for
the government to ensure that education is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Historical Context and Recent Trends
The education sector includes programs and services that support elementary and secondary
education from junior kindergarten through Grade 12. The government provides funds to each
of Ontario’s 72 district school boards using a formula based on student enrolment, number of
schools and local factors, such as the demographic and geographic profile of individual
boards. School boards then make local decisions on funding and staffing schools,
implementing programs to enhance student achievement, and carry out capital projects with
ministry approvals.
Through the Ministry of Education, the province funds nearly 98 per cent of education sector
spending. School boards are funded through direct grants and the education portion of
property taxes. School boards’ expense represented about 94 per cent of the ministry’s total
expense in 2010–11. Over 76 per cent of ministry spending goes to salaries and benefits for
teaching and non-teaching staff.
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