Education funding will increase slightly over the next three years — though critics say it doesn’t keep up with inflation — and the province is promising more money for autism services as well as controversial police-in-schools programs, the government announced in its 2026 budget.
In the fiscal plan unveiled Thursday afternoon, the government also expanded learn-and-stay grants that cover tuition and other expenses for high-demand health-care programs, as well as extending free tuition for police constable recruits.
“We’re taking a comprehensive approach to building Ontario’s workforce — from the classroom to the job site and beyond,” Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in presenting the budget at Queen’s Park.
“That starts in our schools, where we’re investing in required technology and skilled trade workshops at the high school level — so young people can discover their strengths early and see the opportunities ahead of them.”
As previously announced, the government is also putting an additional $6.4 billion into the post-secondary sector over the next four years — though with declining international student enrolment, overall budgets for colleges and universities will hold for the 2026-27 school year at $14 billion, and then decrease to $12.7 billion by 2028-9.
New Democrat MPP Jessica Bell, her party’s finance critic, said the funding falls far short of what’s needed.
And a statement from the big five education union presidents — representing public elementary and secondary, Catholic and French teachers as well as support staff — said they “continue to hear the Ford government claim that publicly funded education is benefiting from unprecedented investment. Inside schools, however, the reality is stark: Our system is in crisis and the government’s proposed budget, which fails students, teachers and education workers yet again, will only exacerbate the situation.”
The union presidents said that per-student funding adjusted for inflation “remains lower than when this government first took office. We remain ready to work constructively and to find solutions through the bargaining process as soon as the government is prepared to come to the table.”
The province has also pledged $41 million over three years for school resource officer programs, which Education Minister Paul Calandra has required boards to allow in municipalities where local police forces offer them.
Such programs are meant to foster positive relations between students and police and improve safety, but critics have said they leave racialized students feeling targeted or unsafe. Toronto police have said they have no plans to bring the program back.
Among other education-related items:
•A boost of $186 million in funding for autism, to $965 million.
•The previously announced $750 yearly spending cards for elementary teachers to cover classroom supplies and equipment, starting this fall.
•$95 million in the 2026-27 school year for digital math tools, math facilitators and reading supports for kids, as well as mental health services in the summer months when school is out.
“We welcome any additional investments in public education, including the (teachers’) classroom supplies fund,” said Kathleen Woodcock, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, adding they’ll have a clearer picture when the province provides more specific numbers.
“Through consultation with our member boards, we know that school boards are hoping to specifically see additional funding directed to special education,” she said.
Martha Hradowy, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said “across public education, from early learning to post-secondary, people are feeling the effects of years of underfunding, staffing shortages, and growing unmet needs. This budget had the opportunity to address these challenges and did not.”
In 2025, funding for education, covering kindergarten to Grade 12, went up from $39 billion to almost $41 billion for this year — but this year’s budget notes that it’s now expected to come in at $462 million less “mainly due to lower-than-projected student enrolment and school board expenditures.”
The province has budgeted $40.8 billion in education spending in 2026-27, which includes both operating and capital funds.
By 2028-29, funding is set to rise to $41.5 billion, which is a 2.47 per cent increase from spending estimates for the current school year.
When it comes to post-secondary, the $14 billion allotment for 2026-27 encompasses both operating and capital funding, including OSAP student aid, research money, as well as some college revenues.
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