NDP, Parents, Advocates call on Ford Government to Invest in Special Education

TORONTO – At Heydon Park Secondary School, Ontario NDP MPP Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) joined concerned parents and advocates to call on the Ford Government to invest in special education and stop cuts to our schools.

“Since the Conservatives came to power in 2018, they have made deep cuts to our schools, forcing them to do more with less. Every single school board in Ontario is spending more on special education than they receive from the Ontario government. And now, our beloved special needs schools are losing teachers and being threatened with closure,” said MPP Bell.

“Every child deserves to have access to high-quality education and well-resourced classrooms. The Ford government must reverse its cuts to special education and properly invest in our schools and our kids’ futures.”

The call comes after the TDSB projected a $38.5 million shortfall in special education supports this year and announced that the special needs school Heydon Park is halting Grade 9 admissions.

Quotes:

“I’ve witnessed my daughter grow in countless ways thanks to the safe, supportive, and empowering environment at Heydon Park. If Heydon Park were to close, I wouldn't know where to send my daughter or how to ensure her safety and success elsewhere. The provincial government should not be balancing the budget on the backs of special needs students. They have every right to an education that meets their unique needs."

-Kamala Kalsi, Chair of Heydon Park Parent Council

“Slowing down enrolment at Heydon and increasing class sizes will change the trajectory of how kids with different learning needs are educated. For many, it will lead to them not accessing an education at all.”

-Sandra Uh, Ontario Autism Coalition Board Director

“What's happening at Hayden Park is not an isolated event—it’s part of a wider pattern of cuts that are quietly dismantling the lifelines our most vulnerable students rely on. That’s why we are building a coalition of parents who can speak with one clear, united voice to the Premier’s office, to the Ministry of Education, and to the TDSB: support our kids.”

-Ronen Keliman, Parent and advocate