The Provincial Government is increasing funding to help get students back on track after the pandemic
The provincial government has announced increased funding to Parry Sound – Muskoka schools to help students recover from the impacts of the pandemic and return to a more normal school year in 2022.
The Grants for Student Needs funding for local school boards for the 2022-2023 school year is as follows:
- Near North DSB will receive $149.7 million, up from $144.7 million for 2021-2022 school year
- Trillium Lakelands DSB will receive $218.5 million, up from $207 million in 2021-2022
- Simcoe Muskoka Catholic DSB will receive almost $280 million in funding, up from $267.4 million in 2021-2022
- Nipissing – Parry Sound Catholic DSB will receive $50.3 million in funding, up from $46.6 million in 2021-2022
Across the province, there is a $683M increase in Grant for Student Needs for the next school year. In addition, Ontario’s Learning Recovery Action Plan will include $600 million in increased funding to strengthen learning recovery in reading and math through investments in tutoring support, summer learning, and mental health supports. In total, these announcements represent a record $26.6 billion in funding for Ontario’s schools in 2022-2023.
Through Ontario’s Learning Recovery Action Plan, $175 million will go towards funding small-group tutoring for students during school, after school, on weekends, and through this summer. This program will begin in April 2022 and continue until December 2022 to ensure students are caught up as they begin the next school year. In recognition of the importance of mental health, $90 million will go to mental health programs and resources across the province. In Parry Sound – Muskoka, this will mean:
- Near North DSB will receive $910,000 in mental health and well-being funding, up from $628,546 in 2021-2022
- Trillium Lakelands DSB will receive $1.14 million, up from $791,347 in 2021-2022 to support student mental health
- Simcoe Muskoka Catholic DSB will receive $1.3 million in mental health and well-being funding, up from $942,485 in 2021-2022
- Nipissing – Parry Sound Catholic DSB will receive $610,000, up from $379,014 in 2021-2022
“Students have been greatly impacted by the pandemic, academically and mentally. It is important that we provide resources to support students in these aspects after the disruptions caused by COVID-19,” said Parry Sound – Muskoka MPP Norman Miller. “This investment is part of our plan to get students back on track and ensure their well-being is supported in schools so that they can unlock their full potential.”