School Refusal and Autism: Legal Options in Ontario
Direct answer
Under Ontario's Education Act, school boards must provide or arrange special education programs and services for exceptional pupils. A parent may request an Identification, Placement and Review Committee referral in writing, while PPM 140 addresses incorporating applied behaviour analysis into programs for students with autism.
Key facts
- Education Act
- s. 32(1) - right to attend without fee
- Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 32(1)
- PPM 140
- ABA in schools (issued May 17, 2007)
- Ministry of Education - Policy/Program Memorandum 140
The numbers behind this answer
Every answer on this site sits on the same verified counts. These are the current figures.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Show as table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
About This Article
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School Board Obligations for Autistic Students
- The Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 170(1), paragraph 7, requires school boards to provide, or arrange with another board to provide, special education programs and special education services for their exceptional pupils. The Ministry of Education's Policy/Program Memorandum 140, issued May 17, 2007, supports school boards in incorporating methods of applied behaviour analysis (ABA) into programs for students with autism spectrum disorder.
- A principal must refer a pupil to an IPRC at a parent's written request. The committee decides whether the pupil should be identified as exceptional and, if so, what the pupil's placement should be.
Resident-Pupil Attendance
- Section 32(1) of the Education Act gives a person the right, without payment of a fee, to attend a school where the person is qualified to be a resident pupil.
Frequently asked questions
The Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) decides whether a pupil is an exceptional pupil and what the pupil's placement should be. Request a referral in writing to the school principal, who must refer the pupil to a committee under O. Reg. 181/98.
Yes. Section 32(1) of the Education Act gives a person the right, without payment of a fee, to attend a school where the person is qualified to be a resident pupil.
Sources
R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2 - s. 32(1) (right to attend), s. 170(1) para. 7 (special education programs and services)
Checked
Identification and Placement of Exceptional Pupils - s. 14(1) (parent-requested referral)
Checked
Policy/Program Memorandum 140 (issued May 17, 2007) - incorporating applied behaviour analysis into programs for students with autism spectrum disorder
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Next steps
Keep going with related guidance, tools, and evidence.
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