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The Ford government says it will give elementary school teachers access to $750 per year in classroom supplies, which they’ll be able to order directly from a new provincial website.
Beginning in September, teachers will be able to use the money to buy writing supplies, calculators, chalk, art, crafts and tissue, among other classroom supplies.
The government said it will offer direct support to teachers, who, Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Paul Calandra both say, have been forced until now to spend their own money on supplies from dollar stores.
“We know that many teachers have been paying out of pocket for supplies. That isn’t fair for teachers or students,” Calandra said.
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“While school boards receive funding for classroom resources, we have not always seen those dollars consistently reach every classroom. That is why we are putting funds directly in the hands of teachers to ensure their classrooms are equipped to support student achievement.”
He said the funds would be in addition to the money boards currently receive.
David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, suggested that spending accounts missed the mark.
“For years, educators have spent hundreds of dollars of their own money to ensure students have what they need. If the government is finally acknowledging this reality, it’s long overdue,” he said in a statement.
“The real issue that needs addressing is this government’s ongoing refusal to address the chronic underfunding that forces educators to subsidize classrooms out of their own pockets in the first place.”
The government said the new website will offer supplies for elementary teachers grade-by-grade, which will then be delivered directly to schools.
The province said it would consult with teachers to work out what supplies it needs to stock on the website.
Calandra said the current policy, which only targets elementary school teachers, was a “start” and he would be open to expanding it to secondary school teachers.
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