Ontario moves to remake school board governance, curb trustees’ powers

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 14, 2026

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Ontario has introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, a proposed overhaul that would reshape how school boards are run across the province, tighten oversight of governance and spending, and refocus decision-making on student outcomes and classroom funding. The government says eight school boards have been placed under supervision since 2025 over governance and financial concerns, while French-language district school boards are excluded from the scope of these proposed reforms.

Under the proposal, elected trustees would remain in place, but with far less influence over finances and operations. The bill would set the number of elected trustees at between five and 12 per board, a change that would directly affect the Toronto District School Board by reducing its elected trustees from 22 to 12. It would also limit discretionary spending, cap trustee honorariums at $10,000, and strengthen oversight of subsidiaries and the use of public funds.

The legislation would also shift more authority to professional leadership inside school boards. Directors of Education would become Chief Executive Officers, with required business qualifications, while a new Chief Education Officer role would focus on academic and pedagogical leadership. The proposal says the CEO would lead budget development and operational oversight, with unresolved budget disputes referred to the education minister, while boards would retain hiring power but need ministerial approval to terminate a CEO.

For families and students, the changes go beyond governance. Ontario also wants mandatory written exams in secondary school courses that already include exams, along with clearer rules on how final grades are calculated. Attendance and participation would count for 15 per cent of final marks in Grades 9 and 10, and 10 per cent in Grades 11 and 12, with excused absences such as illness and holy days protected. The province is also proposing approved classroom resources across Ontario and Student and Family Support Offices in every board by September 1, 2026.