big issues:special programs and program access

Toronto has four publicly funded school boards, split by language (English or French) and faith (public or Catholic). The English-language boards are the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). The French-language boards are Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.

Before you read: a note on provincial supervision. The TDSB and TCDSB have been under provincial supervision since June 27, 2025. Viamonde and MonAvenir are not. While supervision is in place, provincially appointed supervisors exercise powers that would normally belong to elected trustees. Unless otherwise noted, this primer describes a trustee's ordinary powers, outside supervision. To read more: Ontario government.

Where a child goes to school shapes which programs they can join. School boards make decisions about which programs they offer, where those programs are located and how students access them. These decisions can affect access to programs such as French immersion, specialized learning opportunities, and special education services.

The Province sets much of the framework for special programs and special education. School boards operate within those rules. Trustees help shape board priorities, policies, and spending decisions, but they do not manage individual admissions or placements. Here are three ways to understand the role trustees play in program access: the priorities and policies they set, how each board runs its own programs and admissions, and what has changed recently. These are not the only factors, and the largest levers belong to the Province.