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Education Guide
If school is not working, ask the board what supports can change before you withdraw. If you choose homeschooling, get the current board notice process in writing and keep records of instruction.
Case file
What's happening
If school is not working, ask the board what supports can change before you withdraw. If you choose homeschooling, get the current board notice process in writing and keep records of instruction.
Ask for it in writing today
Whatever you decide to request, put it in writing and date it — a verbal answer leaves no record. The School Support Navigator can draft a letter for your specific situation.
What records to keep
A dated log of calls, emails, and meetings matters more than memory once a dispute runs past a few weeks. The Parent Documentation Toolkit walks through what to track.
The rule or duty that applies
2 governing sources for this topic, listed below with what each one covers.
The escalation ladder
If the first request does not resolve it, there is a standard next step — from the school, up through the board, to the Ombudsman and the Tribunal.
The evidence
4 verified figures for this topic, sourced below.
What to do next
A short list of concrete next actions, including where to raise this with your MPP.
Ontario's Education Act excuses a child from school attendance when the child is receiving satisfactory instruction at home or elsewhere. Ministry policy says parents who choose home schooling should notify their school board in writing. A home-school program may use a curriculum other than the Ontario curriculum, and provincial EQAO tests are optional. A board should not normally investigate, but if it has reasonable grounds for concern, it may ask the parent for information about the home schooling.
If your child is currently enrolled in school, notify the school in writing that you are withdrawing them for home instruction. The school board will typically acknowledge your notice and may provide a point of contact for questions. You do not need their permission or approval to begin homeschooling.
Homeschooling allows you to modify every aspect of the learning environment. You can control sensory input (lighting, noise, seating), structure the day around your child's best learning times, incorporate special interests as motivational tools, and use teaching methods that match your child's learning style — visual schedules, hands-on activities, technology-based instruction, or structured teaching approaches like TEACCH.
Many families find that combining structured academic periods with flexible exploration time works well. Allow for movement breaks, sensory regulation activities, and rest periods. The absence of social and sensory demands of a classroom often allows autistic children to demonstrate learning that was not visible in the school environment.
One of the significant advantages of homeschooling is the ability to schedule therapy sessions during the day without missing school. ABA therapy, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy can be integrated into the daily routine. Therapists can work on skill-building in natural contexts within the home environment, which often improves generalization of skills.
Coordinate with your child's therapy team to align educational and therapeutic goals. For example, communication goals from speech therapy can be practiced during reading instruction, and fine motor goals from occupational therapy can be addressed through handwriting and art activities.
Ontario Ministry of Education
Policy/Program Memorandum No. 131: Home Schooling (ontario.ca/education)
Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents
Resources and legal information for homeschooling families in Ontario (oftp.ca)
Escalation ladder
This is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed at any rung. It is the same escalation path used across End The Wait Ontario's School Support Navigator.
Put your concern in writing to the principal. Most issues resolve at this level once there is a dated, written record — and every later rung will ask what you raised here.
If the principal does not respond in writing or the issue continues, escalate to the board's superintendent responsible for special education, attaching your correspondence with the school.
The board level: the Director of Education, and in parallel the board's SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) for systemic issues. Suspension appeals also live here — with a 10-school-day notice window (Education Act, s. 309(3)).
Since September 1, 2015, the Ontario Ombudsman takes complaints about school boards. It reviews how the board handled your concern — bring your dated chronology and the record of the steps you already took.
The HRTO hears applications about discrimination, including disability discrimination in education services. Applications must be filed within one year of the incident (or the last in a series) — Human Rights Code, s. 34(1). This site provides general information only; get advice from the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (hrlsc.on.ca) or a lawyer before filing.
Yes. Your child has the right to return to public school at any time. Contact the school to arrange re-enrollment. The school may conduct an assessment to determine appropriate grade placement. If your child has an existing IPRC identification, it remains on file. A new IEP will be developed upon return.
Do not assume one rule covers every Ontario Autism Program stream. Before changing school placement, ask AccessOAP and the provider about current eligible expenses, service location, records, and whether an administrative status has resulted in actual service access.
Socialization is one of the most common concerns but has many solutions: homeschool co-ops and groups, community recreation programs, Scouts or Guides, autism-specific social skills groups, classes at community centres, sports leagues with inclusive programming, and organized playdates. Many parents find that the quality of social interactions improves when their child is less stressed from school demands.
Next steps
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.
Next Steps
Now that you know how it works, here's how to navigate it for your child.
Related Resources
Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
VerifiedSchools may assign EAs based on IEP needs, but 47% of families report insufficient supports. EA availability varies by board and often fails to match clinical needs, leaving many autistic students without necessary classroom support.
Source: Ontario Education Act & OAC · Verify Link
What rights do autistic children have to timely services in Ontario?
VerifiedCanadian Charter of Rights (Section 15) protects against discrimination based on disability. The Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits unequal treatment in services. OHRC has investigated the OAP waitlist as potential systemic discrimination. Families can file human rights complaints for unreasonable delays.
Source: Canadian Charter, OHRC · Verify Link