School Board Update
Ontario Government Mandates New “Student and Family Support Offices” For All School Boards
Date: November 14, 2025
On November 13, 2025, the Ontario government announced that it is requiring all school boards in the province to establish a “Student and Family Support Office” (Office), with the intended purpose of providing parents and guardians with a formalized mechanism to escalate concerns and resolve complaints regarding their child’s education.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to take greater control of school boards through enhanced oversight and accountability measures, as introduced in Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025 (Bill 33).
Purpose and Function of the Offices
The government is positioning Offices to serve as an additional resource for families to obtain answers on community concerns, as well as contentious or complex issues that require escalation after initial engagement with their child’s teacher or school principal.
Implementation Timeline
The Ministry of Education has set out a two-tiered implementation schedule based on the current supervision status of the school boards.
Supervised School Boards (January 2026)
The Offices must be operational in January 2026 at the five school boards currently under supervision:
- Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
- Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- Thames Valley District School Board
- Toronto Catholic District School Board
- Toronto District School Board
Further details will be available on each of these school boards’ websites by January 19, 2026.
All Other School Boards (September 1, 2026)
All other school boards must:
- submit a report by March 31, 2026, outlining how they will establish an Office
- have the Office operational by September 1, 2026
- ensure each Office is led by a Supervisory Officer
Operational Mandate
School boards will be expected to ensure that Offices meet the following service standards:
- acknowledge any inquiries within two business days
- aim to provide a response to inquiries within five business days
Connection to Bill 33: Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025
The establishment of these Offices forms part of the government’s broader accountability agenda as articulated in Bill 33. The government introduced Bill 33 on May 29, 2025, and if passed, the legislation would strengthen government oversight of school board finances, governance and program performance, and grant the Minister of Education additional authority to act in matters of public interest.
Key provisions of Bill 33 include:
- the power to appoint supervisors to school boards
- greater oversight of student fees and admissions at colleges and universities
- a new requirement for school boards to partner with local police on School Resource Officer programs
Bill 33 was ordered for second reading on May 29, 2025. The second reading debate commenced on June 5, 2025, and has continued into November. We will continue to monitor the progress of Bill 33 through the legislative process and provide updates as developments occur.
If you have any questions regarding implementation of the Student and Family Support Office at your school board, please contact Dolores M. Barbini or your Hicks Morley Lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©