Toronto District School Board
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TDSB Budget

The Budget

Budget Pressures

As Canada’s largest school board, TDSB is facing budgetary pressures to meet demands on critical services and infrastructure.

 

billion shortfall to maintain existing and older school buildings, with rising construction costs (as of January, 2025)

 

is the cumulative unfunded portion of statutory benefits (e.g. for CPP & EI)

 

shortfall to support special education

 

shortfall to support student and staff mental health, safety and well-being

With 579 schools, the size of its student population and operations means there are significant needs. In recent years, the Board has faced growing pressure to spend more than what has been allocated by the Ministry to support students, staff and communities. Here are some areas facing funding strain:

  • Meeting the needs of special education  
  • Resources to support student and staff mental health, safety and well-being 
  • Supply staffing costs (teachers and educational assistants) 
  • Information technology supports to support student achievement (e.g. devices, infrastructure and cyber security) 
  • Accessible schools for students and staff 
  • Improvements to school ventilation 
  • Supporting the community use of schools through permits 
  • Maintenance of existing schools and the renewal of aging infrastructure 
  • Keeping pace with rising operator contracts for student transportation

How school boards are funded

School boards receive most of their funding from the provincial government. A large portion of this funding is allocated to cover staffing for schools (including teachers, Early Childhood Educators and principals), while other areas receive targeted funding from the Ministry of Education. 

Every spring, the Ministry announces education funding (now called Core Education Funding), which is the amount of funding that school boards will receive for the coming year.  

Schedule for 2025-2026 Budget Development
Date Type of Meeting Purpose
Jan 30, 2025  Regular FBEC
  • Report on $5M savings centrally 
  • 1st Quarter financial report 
Feb 27, 2025  Special FBEC
  • Financial projection for 25-26 report 
  • Financial Facts submission 
March 4, 2025  Special FBEC
  • School Based Staffing 2025-26 
March 26, 2025  Regular FBEC
  • Presentation of balance budget plan 
  • Update on Core Ed Funding (if available) 
April 30, 2025  Regular FBEC
  • Update on Operating Budget based on Core Ed Funding 25-26 
  • Presentation of draft capital budget 
May 15, 2025  Special FBEC
  • Update on Operating Budget Plan 
June 4, 2025  Regular FBEC
  • Approval of 25-26 Operating and Capital Budgets 
June 28, 2025  Board
  • Approval of 25-26 Operating and Capital Budgets