Ever wondered how Ontario's schools receive their funding? Let's dive into the Grants for Student Needs (GSN), the primary source of operating funds for Ontario's 72 district school boards.
The GSN is a comprehensive collection of grants, meticulously described in an annual regulation under the Education Act. Each grant within the GSN may include multiple components known as "allocations." For those who love details, the Education Funding: Technical Paper 2023–24 provides an in-depth look at each grant and its calculations.
Funding entitlements for school boards are determined in various ways, including:
- Per-pupil basis
- Per-school basis
- Per-board basis
The GSN consists of two major components:
- Foundation Grants: These cover the basic costs of an educational experience common to all students. They are allocated based on student enrolment and the number of schools.
- Supplemental Grants: These address the unique needs of students, schools, and school boards. They consider factors such as location, specific student and school needs, and the demographic profile of a board.
Given the diverse conditions across Ontario, the funding formula cannot account for every situation. This is why local school boards, which are best positioned to respond to local needs, are given flexibility in how they use the funding.
In addition to GSN funding, school boards also receive funding for special, often time-limited programs from the Ministry of Education and other ministries for specific purposes related to their mandates.
For those who want to dive deeper, the Education Funding: Technical Paper 2023–24, the annual regulation under the Education Act, and the ministry's education funding webpage provide comprehensive details on all grants and their calculations.
For more information, please follow this link.
