News Release

Experts To Examine Impact Of Fewer Students

McGuinty Government Supporting Boards with Shrinking Student Numbers

May 30, 2008

The province is establishing a Declining Enrolment Working Group to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Education on strategies to advance the province's priority goals for student achievement while addressing the impact of declining enrolment.

The group, led by co-chairs Brant MPP Dave Levac and Eleanor Newman, Director of Education at Renfrew County District School Board, will begin work in June. A final report with recommendations will be submitted to the Minister of Education by the end of the year.

In particular, the group will:

• Examine how impacts of declining enrolment vary across school boards and schools of different size, geography and language of instruction
• Recommend strategies to improve the alignment of school board cost structures with reduced enrolment
• Recommend strategies and best practices that will help boards and schools deliver effective education programs while adjusting to lower enrolment

Quotes

"In the face of declining enrolment, we're helping boards make adjustments to ensure our students get the support they need. We've made great progress already, and this report is the first step in the broader funding formula review in 2010," said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

"We're confident the findings will help boards across Ontario better respond to declining enrolment," said co-chairs Dave Levac and Eleanor Newman.

Quick Facts

• In 2008-09, 60 out of 72 Ontario school boards are projected to have declining enrolment.
• The McGuinty government has reformed the funding formula to make it less sensitive to enrolment and has introduced specific measures that help boards adjust to declining enrolment.
• Without these reforms, funding to boards would have been reduced by about $650 million. Instead, changes to the formula and additional investments have increased funding to boards by $4 billion.

Learn More

• Learn more about the Declining Enrolment Working Group and see Frequently Asked Questions
• Find out more about declining school-aged population in Ontario and across Canada

See also:

• Backgrounder: Declining Enrolment In Ontario