big issues:class sizes and staffing

Toronto has four publicly funded school boards, split by language (English or French) and faith (public or Catholic). The English-language boards are the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). The French-language boards are Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.

Before you read: a note on provincial supervision. The TDSB and TCDSB have been under provincial supervision since June 27, 2025. Viamonde and MonAvenir are not. While supervision is in place, provincially appointed supervisors exercise powers that would normally belong to elected trustees. Unless otherwise noted, this primer describes a trustee's ordinary powers, outside supervision. To read more: Ontario government.

How many students share a classroom shapes what a school day is like. Class sizes and staffing are shaped by a mix of provincial rules, local board decisions, and student enrolment. Factors include provincial class size requirements, available funding, enrolment, and how boards distribute staff across schools.

The Province sets class size rules and provides most of a board's funding. School boards operate within those rules. Trustees help set local priorities and spending decisions, but they do not directly manage staffing or classroom assignments. Here are three ways to understand the role trustees play in class sizes and staffing: the priorities they set, the staffing they fund, and what has changed recently. These are not the only factors, and the largest levers belong to the Province.