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When a school keeps your child out — refusing entry, sending them home early, or asking you to keep them home — that may be an "exclusion." The Education Act (s. 265(1)(m)) lets a principal refuse to admit someone whose presence they judge harmful to other pupils' well-being, and says that decision is "subject to an appeal to the board." An exclusion is not a suspension: suspensions follow their own process with set appeal rules. Your first job is to get the school's decision, reasons, and return plan in writing. Informal "just keep them home for now" arrangements are still time out of school, and they count.
Get the decision in writing
Ask the school to confirm in writing what the decision is, under what authority (exclusion? suspension? something informal?), and why.
Start counting days
Record every full or partial day your child is out of school, starting today. Dates are the strongest evidence in exclusion situations.
Ask for the return plan
Request the specific conditions for return, who is responsible for each step, and the date the school expects your child back full-time.
Ask for the board policy and appeal route
The Act says an exclusion is subject to an appeal to the board but sets no process — ask the board, in writing, for its exclusion policy and how to appeal.
Send the exclusion letter
The generated letter below asks all of these questions at once and puts the school on written notice.
I need to understand exactly what is happening. Is my child being excluded under section 265(1)(m) of the Education Act, suspended, or is this an informal arrangement? Can you put the decision, the reasons, the expected duration, and the plan for returning to full-time school in writing? What is the board's process for appealing this decision? How will my child receive education while out of school? Please reply in writing.
Answer four short questions and the Navigator generates this topic's letter with your details filled in, your incident chronology attached, and every legal reference cited — in Plain or Firm tone.
Build my plan and lettersStart with the principal in writing; escalate fast — days out of school accumulate.
See the full escalation ladderSOURCE
Government of Ontario • 2024-01-01
SOURCE
Ontario Human Rights Commission • 2018-03-01
Last updated: 2026-07-04
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)
89,799, 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%, Only 20,633 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