ERIC Number: EJ1378395
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1183-1189
Ontario Special Education Funding: How Is It Determined?
Li, Xiaobin
Brock Education: A Journal of Educational Research and Practice, v32 n1 p83-98 2023
Ontario's special education grant increased from $1.6 billion in 2002-2003 to $3.2 billion in 2020-2021, representing approximately 12.5% of the overall education funding. Although demands to increase special education funding continue from an equity and inclusion standpoint, students with exceptionalities are at risk of lower achievement. This study thus examined how the special education grant for elementary and secondary students with exceptionalities in Ontario is determined, primarily through document analysis as well as the author's communication with the Ontario Ministry of Education for information not available through open documents. A review of funding information since 1998 reveals that the special education grant increases almost annually based on a variety of mechanisms encompassing six components, three of which are determined predominantly by total enrolment and three determined by claimed cases for different exceptionalities. Findings help explain how the special education grant is determined, thus informing discussion on policies regarding funding for students with exceptionalities.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Finance, Grants, Special Education, Educational Equity (Finance), Financial Policy, Educational Policy, Policy Analysis, Needs Assessment, Resource Allocation
Brock University Faculty of Education. 500 Glenridge Avenue, Saint Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1 Canada. Tel: 905-688-5550 ext. 3733; e-mail: brocked@brocku.ca; Web site: http://brocked.ed.brocku.ca
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A