Education Guide
EducationEducation Act, Section 21(2)(a)
Legal basis for homeschooling in Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Education
None — notification only
Approval required from school board
Ontario Ministry of Education, Policy/Program Memorandum 131
Approximately 20,000-30,000 students
Estimated homeschooling families in Ontario
Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents
No requirement to follow Ontario curriculum
Curriculum requirement
Education Act, Section 21(2)(a)
Under the Ontario Education Act, parents may provide "satisfactory instruction at home" as an alternative to school attendance. You must submit a written notice of intent to homeschool to your local school board. There is no requirement to follow the Ontario curriculum, use licensed teachers, or submit to regular assessments. However, the school board can request evidence that instruction is being provided.
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)
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