TORONTO — Ontario is rolling out new classroom funding, standardized assessment rules and curriculum changes as students return for the 2026-27 school year, backed by $30.6 billion in Core Education Funding and a broader multibillion-dollar school infrastructure program.
The provincial government says its latest education measures are intended to direct more resources to classrooms, establish consistent academic expectations and strengthen accountability across publicly funded school boards. The changes include a new teacher classroom-supplies fund, mandatory written exams in most secondary courses, updated curriculum and the opening of dozens of new and expanded schools.
“Our focus is clear: putting student achievement first and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “We are making record investments in education, and we expect those investments to deliver better results for students. We are giving teachers the tools and resources they need, giving parents clearer information and greater confidence in their child’s education, and making sure students are building strong skills to succeed in school and prepare for the future.”
Ontario Directs New Funding to Classroom Supplies
One of the most significant changes for teachers is the introduction of direct annual funding for classroom materials. Eligible elementary homeroom teachers will have access to $750 per year for supplies, separate from existing funding provided to school boards.
Supply Ontario conducted a competitive procurement process and selected Staples Canada to administer the Classroom Supplies Fund. An online purchasing portal will offer 220 core products selected using feedback from more than 23,000 Ontario teachers.
The province says those products will be available at prices significantly below comparable Staples retail and online prices. A dedicated customer-service process will also allow teachers to seek price matching when an item is found elsewhere within Staples at a lower price.
The program forms part of the province’s $30.6-billion Core Education Funding commitment for the current school year, with the government emphasizing spending that directly supports classroom learning and student skills development.
More Than $1 Billion Supports New and Expanded Schools
Ontario is also expanding education infrastructure as enrolment and community needs evolve.
Thirty-five new and expanded schools are scheduled to open across the province this fall. Together, the projects will create more than 18,300 student spaces and 1,130 licensed child-care spaces, representing an investment exceeding $1 billion.
Long-Term School Construction Plan Nears $30 Billion
The projects form part of Ontario’s nearly $30-billion, 10-year strategy to construct, expand and renew schools.
For communities experiencing population growth, new school capacity has become an increasingly important part of provincial infrastructure planning, particularly as governments seek to accommodate housing development alongside education and child-care services.
Secondary School Grading and Exams Undergo Major Changes
Students will also encounter new academic standards. Ontario is implementing provincewide secondary assessment and grading requirements designed to create greater consistency among schools.
Classroom work will account for 65 per cent of final grades. Final evaluations will represent 20 per cent of grades for students in Grades 9 and 10 and 25 per cent for Grades 11 and 12. Written final examinations are returning in most secondary courses.
Attendance and participation will account for another 15 per cent of final grades in Grades 9 and 10 and 10 per cent in Grades 11 and 12. The province says students will not be penalized for excused absences.
The Advisory Body on Student Achievement and Assessment is also conducting a broader review of assessment practices and student achievement, including ways to improve foundational reading, writing and mathematics outcomes.
Financial Literacy and Curriculum Updates Enter Classrooms
Several curriculum changes are taking effect this school year, including a new Grade 10 financial literacy requirement and updated Kindergarten and history curricula.
Elementary students will receive paper report cards, while teachers are gaining access to curriculum-aligned English and French classroom materials through Nelson Education’s Edwin platform.
Every Ontario school board now also has a Student and Family Support Office, providing families with another avenue for addressing concerns that cannot be resolved at the individual school level.
Province Pushes Greater Consistency Across School Boards
The measures are tied to the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, which the government says is intended to increase accountability, consistency and modernization across Ontario’s education system.
Taken together, the funding and policy changes represent a significant shift in how Ontario is approaching classroom resources, assessment and school-board accountability. With billions of dollars committed to operating funding and infrastructure, the province is placing increased emphasis on measurable academic outcomes while introducing more standardized expectations for students, teachers and school boards.