Students with Special Needs Overlooked in School Board Interventions
Advocates for students with special learning needs are raising alarm bells about what they describe as systematic neglect during school board takeovers by the provincial government. At a news conference held at Queen's Park on Monday, November 10, 2025, prominent disability advocates joined Liberal MPP Jonathan Tsao to demand immediate action.
The gathering featured Bruce McIntosh, David Lepofsky, and Julia Evangelisto, all respected voices in the special education community who expressed deep concerns about how provincial interventions in struggling school boards are failing vulnerable students.
Systemic Failures in Special Education Support
According to the advocates, when the province appoints supervisors to take over school boards, the unique requirements of students with learning disabilities and other special needs are frequently overlooked. The focus on financial management and administrative restructuring comes at the expense of specialized programming and support services that these students rely on for academic success.
David Lepofsky, a well-known disability rights advocate, emphasized that these takeovers often result in cuts to essential services and programs specifically designed for students with special needs. He noted that while financial stability is important, it shouldn't be achieved by sacrificing the educational rights of vulnerable children.
Calls for Immediate Policy Changes
The advocates are demanding that the provincial government implement specific safeguards to protect special education programs during any school board intervention. They argue that current protocols lack sufficient provisions to ensure that students with learning disabilities continue receiving the accommodations and support they need.
Julia Evangelisto stressed the urgency of the situation, pointing out that every day without proper support represents significant learning loss for students who already face educational challenges. She called for mandatory inclusion of special education experts in any intervention teams and transparent reporting on how takeovers affect vulnerable student populations.
Liberal MPP Jonathan Tsao pledged to bring the concerns to the legislative floor, promising to advocate for policy changes that would prioritize the needs of special education students during school board interventions. The advocates warned that without immediate action, an entire generation of students with special learning needs risks being left behind in Ontario's education system.
