About the Budget

• Where does the money come from?

• Almost all funding that district school boards receive is provided through Core Education Funding (CEF). It is more commonly referred to as Core Ed funding and replaces the funding model previously referred to as the Grants for Student Needs (GSN). The change in name coincides with the Ministry’s objective of streamlining the funding formula to help make it easier to understand and improve school board accountability. Funding is provided under six pillars:

  • Classroom Staffing
  • Learning Resources
  • Special Education
  • School Facilities
  • Student Transportation
  • School Board Administration

  Most of the funding within the Core Ed funding model continues to be generated based on average daily enrolment (ADE) which is a measurement of the number of students enrolled in the District’s schools. The ADE is multiplied by Ministry funding benchmarks to determine the grant allocation. The funding supports needs common to all students and covers costs such as staff salaries, supplies and technology.

  The Ministry publication, A Guide to Core Education Funding: 2024-25 School Year, provides an overview of how education is funded in Ontario.

• Where does it go?

• Most of the money, nearly 80%, is spent on staffing costs through salaries, benefits and staff development (this spending is mostly based on collective bargaining agreements). The rest is spent on building construction, maintenance and improvements; student transportation; administration; and other costs.

• Does the budget have to be balanced or can a school board run a deficit?

• We are required to prepare a balanced budget. However, a school board is allowed to run a 1% deficit (of operating grants provided from the Ministry of Education) if it has surplus available to cover it. A separate plan must be prepared to inform the provincial government how this deficit will be eliminated.

  The OCDSB no longer has an operating surplus, which means the budget must be balanced within provincial funding. The passing of a balanced budget is a key step in supporting the financial health of the organization and complying with Ministry guidelines.
  

• Is there a lot of room for trustees and staff to make changes to the budget?

• Not really. Approximately 90% of the OCDSB budget is committed, which means that the Ontario government tells us how it can be spent. This could include meeting Ministry of Education requirements in certain program areas (such as special education or Indigenous education), staffing levels and salaries (set through provincial labour negotiations), or how much can be spent on building new schools or upgrading older buildings.

  That leaves 10% of the budget able to be spent on areas recommended by OCDSB staff and trustees.

• What period of time does the budget cover?

• The budget covers a fiscal year from September 1st until August 31st.

• When does the budget need to be finalized?

• The Board of Trustees needs to approve the final budget by the end of June each year. This depends on a few key factors:

  1. Approval of academic staffing: The OCDSB must approve academic staffing levels for the next academic year by the end of March. The March timeline is required to meet collective agreement obligations and to ensure that teachers are assigned to schools and classrooms prior to the start of the school year. This approval represents approximately 55% of operating costs in our budget.
  2. Provincial funding announcements: Since most of our funding comes from the provincial government, we are unable to finalize the staff-recommended budget until the Ministry of Education announces how much money we will receive. This information typically comes in the early spring each year.
• How can I share my advice or concerns about the budget?

• Are there areas that you feel the OCDSB needs to consider when crafting the annual budget? Do you feel more investments are required or money could be better spent elsewhere? Do you have any questions about the budget process?

  Share them with us using the "Share Your Feedback" tab on this page.

  In addition, you can contact your trustee any time of the year to share your input, or appear as a delegation at a Board or Committee meeting.

  It is important to remember that the majority of funding in the OCDSB budget comes from the provincial government. Questions, concerns and suggestions can also be directed to your local MPP, the Minister of Education or Ontario Minister of Finance.

Programs and Priorities

• How do you determine where to spend money?

• Our decisions are guided by a few key factors:

  • Commitments in our strategic plan
  • Obligations of all collective agreements
  • Improved student learning, safety and well-being
  • Future considerations (such as potential risks or changes to the community)
  • Ministry legislation, regulations, policies and priorities.
• How does the Special Education Program receive funding?

• District school boards may only use Special Education Fund allocations for special education programs, services and/or equipment. Any unspent Special Education Fund amount must be set aside and spent on special education in subsequent years. The costs of the District’s special education program regularly exceeds the resources provided by Core Ed funding. The program’s 2024-25 projected deficit is $4.3 million.

• How has the funding model changed for transportation?

• Prior to 2024, the transportation funding was primarily based on a per average daily enrolment (ADE) allocation. In 2024, the model was significantly changed and now provides funding reflecting vehicle type, number of routes, distances driven and number of public transit riders. The new model will provide funding of $51.8 million in 2024-25, which approximates the funding received under the old model.

• How much of the funding provided to school districts is used on salaries and benefits?

• Generally, 80% of funding is spent on employee salaries and benefits. Most of these salaries are based on Ministry of Education formulas and collective agreement obligations. There is very little funding that can be allocated toward discretionary hiring.

• How is the Extended Day (EDP) and Infant Toddler Preschool (ITP) Programs funded?

• The Ministry of Education does not provide operational funding for the EDP or ITP programs at the OCDSB. The programs are funded through external funding and parent fees.

• What are Responsive Education Programs (REP) grants?

• Responsive Education Programs (REP) grants are special purpose allocations that are provided outside of Core Education funding. REP grants reflect Ministry priorities and generally represent time-limited initiatives and pilot programs. They are used for a variety of purposes such as reading and tutoring programs, math strategy implementation and covering costs of employing graduation coaches or menstrual equity objectives. The funding can only be used for the intended purpose and spending is reported to the Ministry in accordance with funding agreement requirements.

  REP funding was previously referred to as Priorities and Partnerships Funding (PPF). Although the name was changed in 2024, the intent of such funding remains the same.