Education Guide
EducationNo — allocation is at board/school discretion
Guaranteed 1:1 EA for autistic students
Ontario Ministry of Education — Special Education Guide
$3.37 billion province-wide
Special Education Grant (2024-25)
Ontario Ministry of Education — Education Funding Guide
IEP describes support type, not specific EA hours
IEP EA requirement
Ontario Ministry of Education — IEP Standards
1 year from the date of discrimination
OHRT complaint filing deadline
Ontario Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
School boards receive Special Education Grant funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education. This funding covers EA salaries, among other costs. Boards decide how to distribute EA hours across schools and students.
There is no provincial standard guaranteeing a specific ratio of EAs to students. Each board sets its own model. Some assign EAs to individual students. Others assign EAs to classrooms or programs. The principal, in consultation with the special education team, determines allocation at the school level.
The student's IEP may include EA support as an accommodation. However, the IEP does not specify the number of EA hours. It describes the type of support needed, not the staffing model.
Parents have the right to participate in IEP development. They can advocate for EA support to be included in the IEP. They can also request an IPRC (Identification, Placement, and Review Committee) meeting to discuss their child's needs.
If a parent disagrees with the level of EA support, they can request a meeting with the principal and special education coordinator. Boards have internal complaint processes. Parents can also contact the Ontario Ombudsman if the board is not following its own policies.
The Ontario Human Rights Code requires that students receive accommodation to the point of undue hardship. If a student cannot safely participate in school without EA support, the board may be legally obligated to provide it.
EA hours can change from year to year or even mid-year. Budget constraints, staffing shortages, and changing student populations all affect allocation. Parents are not always notified before changes take effect.
If EA hours are reduced, document the impact on your child immediately. Note specific incidents, missed learning opportunities, and safety concerns. Request a meeting with the principal in writing. Escalate to the superintendent if the school-level response is insufficient.
In some cases, filing a human rights complaint may be necessary. The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal can order a board to provide accommodations, including EA support, if the board has failed in its duty to accommodate.
Ontario Ministry of Education
Special Education in Ontario: Policy and Resource Guide (ontario.ca/education)
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities (ohrc.on.ca)
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Verified Facts
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)
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50, According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement