With the last two years being heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Government has announced a staggering amount of funding to help students return to normal.
$26.6 billion is being invested by the provincial government to provide learning recovery and fund mental health supports for students to allow a return to a more normal school year next year. Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) will be receiving over $1.18 billion in grants for students needs (GSN) funding for the 2022-23 school year.
“COVID-19 has impacted every single person living in Ontario, including students,” says Parm Gill, Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism and MPP for Milton. “These investments will ensure that students in Milton have access to the supports they need to recover from the pandemic disruptions so that they can reach their full potential. Recognizing the importance of mental health, our government is also providing additional resources to ensure students feel safe and supported at school.”
Funding allocated represents an increase from $1.14 billion to a total investment of:
- HCDSB is projected to receive $413,147,879
- HDSB is projected to receive $769,320,687
“No government in Ontario history has invested more in public education, tutoring supports, mental health, and special education than ours led by Premier Ford,” says Minister Lecce. “We are bridging learning gaps that have emerged over the past years through a massive increase in small group tutoring programs and through the expansion of mental health supports to benefit children across all schools in Ontario.”
The Ontario Government’s $600 million Learning Recovery Action Plan will help students recover from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and will be available to students this year and into next school year. $175 million is being invested to expand access to free publicly funded tutoring in small groups after school, during school, on weekends and over the summer.
READ: Another school is being built in Milton
As a part of Ontario’s commitment to provide $14 billion to support school construction over ten years, the Ontario Government has invested over $220 million in capital projects in education, including 8 new schools, 3 additions and renovations to existing facilities in Milton. These investments will serve nearly 6500 student spaces in Milton.
