Funding for Special Education

The Ministry of Education is responsible for funding Ontario's elementary and secondary schools operated by public and Catholic English and French boards.

Education funding starts with the Foundation Grant, which gives every school board a basic level of funding for each student. Additional funding is provided through special purpose grants, including a Special Education Grant, based on specific costs or needs that affect some boards and some students more than others. The operation and maintenance of school buildings and the construction of new schools or additions are funded through the Pupil Accommodation Grant.

The Special Education Grant provides funding for exceptional pupils and other students who need special education programs and supports. This funding is intended to support the additional programs, services, and equipment required to meet the educational needs of these students. The Special Education Grant includes five components - the Special Education Per-Pupil Amount, the Special Equipment Amount, the High Needs Amount, the Special Incidence Portion, and the Facilities Amount.

Special Education Per-Pupil Amount (SEPPA) is allocated to boards on the basis of total enrolment. SEPPA recognizes the cost of providing additional assistance to the majority of students with special needs.

The High Needs Amount addresses the cost of providing the intensive staff support required by the small number of pupils with very high needs.

The Special Equipment Amount covers the incremental cost of an individual student's equipment needs in excess of $800 in the year of purchase.

The Special Incidence Portion (SIP) supports pupils with exceptionally high needs who require more than two full-time staff to address health and safety needs. Eligibility criteria for SIP are outlined in the document entitled Special Education Funding Guidelines: Special Equipment Amount (SEA) and Special Incidence Portion (SIP), 2007-2008 (PDF, 1.1 MB).

The Facilities Amount provides funding for programs serving pupils who are receiving their education through facilities such as hospitals, children's mental health centres, psychiatric institutions, detention and correctional facilities, community living/group homes, and other social services agencies. The provision of education in these facilities is subject to an agreement between a district school board and a facility.

In addition to the Foundation Grant and the Special Education Grant, other special purpose grants may assist the school board to meet needs of some exceptional pupils. Please visit the Education Funding page for more detailed information.