Home / Education / Schools Fail Special Needs Kids Amid EA Shortage
Schools Fail Special Needs Kids Amid EA Shortage
16 Sep
Summary
- Lack of educational assistants leaves students without crucial support.
- Parents fear for their children's safety due to insufficient supervision.
- School boards face budget shortfalls impacting special education funding.
Parents in the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) are expressing deep distress over a critical shortage of educational assistants (EAs). This lack of support is leaving students with disabilities without necessary aid, increasing the burden on teachers and creating safety anxieties for families. For instance, one mother worries about her son with autism and ADHD running away, as he now lacks the constant supervision he previously had.
School officials and union representatives point to underfunding as the root cause. Despite increasing student needs, provincial funding formulas have not kept pace, leading to budget shortfalls. The TVDSB anticipates a $9.2 million deficit in special education funding by 2026-2027. This situation forces EAs to be moved between schools, leaving some students with complex needs without any dedicated support.
This deficit in educational assistants means students miss out on opportunities readily available to their peers. For example, a Grade 9 student with disabilities cannot access vocational courses due to a lack of staff to escort him. Another seven-year-old, who has autism, is reportedly not assigned an EA because she is perceived as doing 'too well,' despite requiring classroom assistance and supervision.
