New here? Start with our 2-minute guide to OAP registration , no sign-up required.
Near North (North Bay) · Placed under provincial supervision on December 1, 2025, supervisor Rebecca Bell.
Supervision date, appointed supervisor, and the Ministry's stated reason verified against official government sources · last verified 2026-08-12.
Unlike the financial takeovers, Near North was placed under supervision over governance — the Ministry cited non-compliance with a series of binding ministerial directions. The board was operating with a surplus at the time, and the order followed disputes including a delayed Parry Sound school project. It was the first supervision exercised under the broadened powers of Bill 33 (2025).
Provincial supervisor; the Minister of Education acted as interim supervisor from December 1, 2025 before Rebecca Bell was appointed on April 15, 2026.
Appointed
Next Steps
Provincial supervision can change how special education services are delivered. Learn what you can do.
What rights do autistic students have in Ontario schools?
VerifiedIn Ontario, students with autism have the right to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and reasonable accommodations without a formal diagnosis, based on need. Parents can request an IPRC meeting to identify their child as 'exceptional', guaranteeing specific rights to support services.
Source: Ontario Education Act · Open source record
What official government data tracks the Ontario autism waitlist?
VerifiedThe current province-wide waitlist record is the MCCSS FOI data published through the Ontario Autism Coalition data hub. As of May 2026, it shows 91,974 registered children and 22.5% with active funding agreements. Historical FAO, Auditor General, OHRC, and AccessOAP records provide separate context and should be cited for their own claims.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC May 2026 · Open source record
Sources on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
up to 72%
Educational Assistants were absent on an average of 18% of school days in 2023/24, and between 49% and 72% of those absences went unfilled at sampled boards
See authorship, freshness, trust signals, and ways to stay current.
Founder & Autism Advocate