Province building a strong, accountable education system by ensuring parents can directly raise concerns, get help and find solutions faster
HURON-PERTH — The Ontario government is expanding Student and Family Support Offices to all 72 school boards across the province, giving parents and families a clear, effective way to get help regarding their child’s education and find solutions faster. MPP Lisa Thompson and MPP Matthew Rae announced that the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board and Avon Maitland District School Board now have a Student and Family Support Office in place, providing families with an additional way to get answers on broader community concerns, navigate complex issues and receive the information and support they need. This initiative is one more way the government is delivering on its broader plan to make school boards more accountable and focused on student success with a back-to-basics approach that strengthens student achievement and prepares them for rewarding careers.
Below is contact information for the Student and Family Support Offices in Huron and Perth counties, which can also be found on the school boards’ websites:
- Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board: Student and Family Support Office (SFSO) | supportoffice@huronperthcatholic.ca | 1-800-265-8508
- Avon Maitland District School Board: Student & Family Support Office (SFSO) | supportoffice@ed.amdsb.ca | 519-527-0111 ext. 600543
“Parents in Huron County deserve a clear, transparent, and direct pathway to address concerns and navigate their child’s education,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “Establishing Student and Family Support Offices in our local school boards ensures our families are heard, respected, and given timely solutions. By reinforcing accountability and focusing on a back-to-basics approach, we are putting students first and setting them up for long-term success.”
“Parents deserve the right to be informed and involved when it comes to their children and their schools,” said Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington. “This is an important step in ensuring that families are heard when it comes to teaching the next generation.”
Student and Family Support Offices review concerns raised by parents to help address matters that need to be escalated following initial engagement with a child’s teacher and principal. As part of their mandate, these offices streamline the response process for families by acknowledging inquiries within two business days and aiming to provide an answer within five business days. School boards are also expected to ensure responses to parent inquiries are conducted in a clear manner that is easily understood by a parent and include relevant and accurate information that addresses the specific inquiry.
“Parents should have a clear and consistent way to raise concerns and get answers when it comes to their child’s education,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “We are strengthening accountability across our school boards and making sure families can get the support they need when they need it. Everything we are doing is focused on improving student achievement and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
This will make the education system more responsive and accessible for families by ensuring existing resources can be directed to help students, parents and families navigate the education system and make sure their concerns are addressed. The Ministry of Education will collect information regularly from all 72 school boards to identify patterns and trends about the types of concerns parents are raising, helping to find ways to improve processes so students and families receive better support.
Student and Family Support Offices have already been operating in supervised school boards, with 95 per cent of family inquiries acknowledged within two business days and nearly 90 per cent receiving a response within five business days or an estimated response date for more complex matters. The experience from these offices has helped inform the expansion of this consistent approach to all school boards across the province.
These actions reflect the government’s continued focus on upholding public trust in Ontario’s publicly funded education system and are part of the government’s plan to build a strong, accountable and well-supported public education system with a back-to-basics approach that is focused on improving student outcomes.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario is providing historic levels of education funding in 2026-27, with an investment of $30.6 billion in Core Education Funding to focus key resources where they matter most: on student success.
- For the 2026-27 school year, Ontario is making changes to strengthen student achievement and deliver more consistent learning experiences across the province that prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.
- Students and teachers will return to an updated curriculum, new classroom resources and stronger supports, including new tools to support financial literacy and math, and clearer expectations around attendance and assessment.
The province is providing direct access to funding for elementary homeroom teachers to purchase classroom supplies.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES