Interpretation, other general matters
1 (1) In this Act and the regulations, except where otherwise provided in the Act or regulations, “band” and “council of the band” have the same meaning as in the Indian Act (Canada); (“bande”, “conseil de bande”) “board” means a district school board or a school authority; (“conseil”, “conseil scolaire”) “bullying” means aggressive and typically repeated behaviour by a pupil where, (a) the behaviour is intended by the pupil to have the effect of, or the pupil ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect of, (i) causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or (ii) creating a negative environment at a school for another individual, and (b) the behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between the pupil and the individual based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability or the receipt of special education; (“intimidation”) “business property” means business property as defined in section 257.5; (“bien d’entreprise”) “combined separate school zone” means a union of two or more separate school zones; (“zone unifiée d’écoles séparées”) “continuing education instructor” means a person employed to provide instruction in a continuing education course or class established in accordance with the regulations, other than those courses or classes for which membership in the Ontario College of Teachers is required under the regulations; (“instructeur de l’éducation permanente”) “continuing education teacher” means a teacher employed to teach a continuing education course or class established in accordance with the regulations for which membership in the Ontario College of Teachers is required by the regulations; (“enseignant de l’éducation permanente”) “credit” means recognition granted to a pupil by a principal as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the pupil has successfully completed a quantity of work that, (a) has been specified by the principal in accordance with the requirements of the Minister, and (b) is acceptable to the Minister as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Ontario secondary school diploma, the secondary school graduation diploma or the secondary school honour graduation diploma, as the case may be; (“crédit”) “current expenditure” means an expenditure, for operating purposes or for a permanent improvement, from funds other than funds, (a) advanced under a mortgage, or (b) arising from the sale of a debenture or an instrument prescribed under clause 247 (3) (f), from a capital loan or from a loan pending the sale of a debenture or such an instrument; (“dépenses courantes”) “current revenue” means all amounts earned by a board, together with the amounts to which it becomes entitled, other than by borrowing, that may be used to meet its expenditures; (“recettes courantes”) “debt charge” means the amount of money necessary annually, (a) to pay the principal due on long-term debt not payable from a sinking fund, a retirement fund or a fund prescribed under clause 247 (3) (e), (b) to provide a fund for the redemption of debentures or instruments prescribed under clause 247 (3) (f) payable from a sinking fund, a retirement fund or a fund prescribed under clause 247 (3) (e), and (c) to pay the interest due on all debt referred to in clauses (a) and (b); (“service de la dette”) “designated early childhood educator” means an early childhood educator who is appointed by a board to a position in junior kindergarten, kindergarten or extended day programs that is designated by the board as requiring an early childhood educator; (“éducateur de la petite enfance désigné”) “district municipality” means a local municipality in a territorial district; (“municipalité de district”) “district school area” means a school section in the territorial districts that is not a school section of a district school board or a school section designated under section 68; (“secteur scolaire de district”) “district school board” means, (a) an English-language public district school board, (b) an English-language separate district school board, (c) a French-language public district school board, or (d) a French-language separate district school board; (“conseil scolaire de district”) “driver’s licence” has the same meaning as in the Highway Traffic Act; (“permis de conduire”) “early childhood educator” means a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators; (“éducateur de la petite enfance”) “education authority” means a corporation that is incorporated by one or more bands or councils of bands for the purpose of providing for the educational needs of the members of the band or bands; (“commission indienne de l’éducation”) “elementary school” means a school in which instruction is given in some or all of the primary division, junior division and intermediate division but not in the senior division; (“école élémentaire”) “English-language district school board” means an English-language public district school board or an English-language separate district school board; (“conseil scolaire de district de langue anglaise”) “English-language public board” means, (a) an English-language public district school board, or (b) a public school authority; (“conseil public de langue anglaise”) “English-language public board supporter” means a person who is an owner or tenant of residential property in the area of jurisdiction of a board and who is not, (a) a separate school supporter, (b) a French-language public district school board supporter, or (c) a Protestant separate school board supporter; (“contribuable des conseils publics de langue anglaise”) “English-language Roman Catholic board” means, (a) an English-language separate district school board, or (b) a Roman Catholic school authority; (“conseil catholique de langue anglaise”) “English-language Roman Catholic board supporter” means a Roman Catholic, (a) who is shown as an English-language Roman Catholic board supporter on the school support list as prepared or revised by the assessment commissioner under section 16 of the Assessment Act, or (b) who is declared to be an English-language Roman Catholic board supporter as a result of a final decision rendered in proceedings commenced under the Assessment Act, and includes his or her Roman Catholic spouse; (“contribuable des conseils catholiques de langue anglaise”) Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection 1 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following definition: (See: 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1)) “equivalent apprenticeship learning” means a learning situation, (a) in which a pupil participates in an apprenticeship program within the meaning of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, and (b) that meets the criteria set out in the regulations; (“formation équivalente en apprentissage”) “equivalent learning” means a learning situation that falls outside the instruction traditionally provided by a board, that is approved under paragraph 3.0.1 of subsection 8 (1) and for which a pupil’s success can be reasonably evaluated; (“apprentissage équivalent”) Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the definition of “equivalent learning” in subsection 1 (1) of the Act is repealed. (See: 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (2)) “exceptional pupil” means a pupil whose behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities are such that he or she is considered to need placement in a special education program by a committee, established under subparagraph iii of paragraph 5 of subsection 11 (1), of the board, (a) of which the pupil is a resident pupil, (b) that admits or enrols the pupil other than pursuant to an agreement with another board for the provision of education, or (c) to which the cost of education in respect of the pupil is payable by the Minister; (“élève en difficulté”) Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the French version of the definition of “exceptional pupil”,  in subsection 1 (1) of the Act is repealed. (See: 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (3)) “extended day program” means a program operated by a board under section 259 or 259.1; (“programme de jour prolongé”) “French-language district school board” means a French-language public district school board or a French-language separate district school board; (“conseil scolaire de district de langue française”) “French-language district school board supporter” means a French-language public district school board supporter or a French-language separate district school board supporter; (“contribuable des conseils scolaires de district de langue française”) “French-language instructional unit” means a class, group of classes or school in which the French language or Quebec sign language is the language of instruction but does not include a class, group of classes or school established under paragraph 25 or 25.1 of subsection 8 (1); (“module scolaire de langue française”) “French-language public district school board supporter” means a French-language rights holder, (a) who is shown as a French-language public district school board supporter on the school support list as prepared or revised by the assessment commissioner under section 16 of the Assessment Act, or (b) who is declared to be a French-language public district school board supporter as a result of a final decision rendered in proceedings commenced under the Assessment Act, and includes his or her spouse if the spouse is a French-language rights holder; (“contribuable des conseils scolaires de district publics de langue française”) “French-language rights holder” means a person who has the right under subsection 23 (1) or (2), without regard to subsection 23 (3), of the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have his or her children receive their primary and secondary school instruction in the French language in Ontario; (“titulaire des droits liés au français”) “French-language separate district school board supporter” means a Roman Catholic French-language rights holder, (a) who is shown as a French-language separate district school board supporter on the school support list as prepared or revised by the assessment commissioner under section 16 of the Assessment Act, or (b) who is declared to be a French-language separate district school board supporter as a result of a final decision rendered in proceedings commenced under the Assessment Act, and includes his or her Roman Catholic spouse if the spouse is a French-language rights holder; (“contribuable des conseils scolaires de district séparés de langue française”) “French-speaking person” means a child of a person who has the right under subsection 23 (1) or (2), without regard to subsection 23 (3), of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have his or her children receive their primary and secondary school instruction in the French-language in Ontario; (“francophone”) “guardian” means a person who has lawful custody of a child, other than the parent of the child; (“tuteur”) “head office” of a board means the place at which the minute book, financial statements and records, and seal of the board are ordinarily kept; (“siège”) “Indian” has the same meaning as in the Indian Act (Canada); (“Indien”) “intermediate division” means the division of the organization of a school comprising the first four years of the program of studies immediately following the junior division; (“cycle intermédiaire”) “judge” means a judge of the Superior Court of Justice; (“juge”) “junior division” means the division of the organization of a school comprising the first three years of the program of studies immediately following the primary division; (“cycle moyen”) “Minister” means the Minister of Education and Training; (“ministre”) “Ministry” means the Ministry of Education and Training; (“ministère”) “municipality” means a local municipality; (“municipalité”) “old board” has the same meaning as “board” in subsection 1 (1) of this Act, as it read immediately before the Education Quality Improvement Act, 1997 received Royal Assent, and includes The Metropolitan Toronto School Board but does not include a school authority; (“ancien conseil”) “part-time teacher” means a teacher employed by a board on a regular basis for other than full-time duty; (“enseignant à temps partiel”) “permanent improvement” includes, (a) a school site and an addition or improvement to a school site, (b) a building used for instructional purposes and any addition, alteration or improvement to a building used for instructional purposes, (c) any addition, alteration or improvement to an administration building, (d) a teacher’s residence or caretaker’s residence, a storage building for equipment and supplies, and any addition, alteration or improvement to such a residence or storage building, (e) furniture, furnishings, library books, instructional equipment and apparatus, and equipment required for maintenance of the property described in clauses (a) to (d) or in clause (f), (f) a bus or other vehicle, including watercraft, for the transportation of pupils, (g) the obtaining of a water supply or an electrical power supply on the school property or the conveying of a water supply or an electrical power supply to the school from outside the school property, (h) initial payments or contributions for past service pensions to a pension plan for officers and other employees of the board, (i) any property, work, undertaking or matter prescribed under subsection (6); (“amélioration permanente”) “population” means the population as determined by the assessment commissioner from the last municipal enumeration as updated under the provisions of the Assessment Act; (“population”) “primary division” means the division of the organization of a school comprising junior kindergarten, kindergarten and the first three years of the program of studies immediately following kindergarten; (“cycle primaire”) “principal” means a teacher appointed by a board to perform in respect of a school the duties of a principal under this Act and the regulations; (“directeur d’école”) “private school” means an institution at which instruction is provided at any time between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any school day for five or more pupils who are of or over compulsory school age in any of the subjects of the elementary or secondary school courses of study and that is not a school as defined in this section; (“école privée”) “provincial supervisory officer” means a supervisory officer employed in the Ministry; (“agent provincial de supervision”) “public board” means, (a) a public district school board, or (b) a public school authority; (“conseil public”) “public district school board” means, (a) an English-language public district school board, or (b) a French-language public district school board; (“conseil scolaire de district public”) “public school” means a school under the jurisdiction of a public board; (“école publique”) “public school authority” means, (a) a board of a district school area, (b) a board of a secondary school district established under section 67, or (c) a board established under section 68; (“administration scolaire publique”) “pupil” includes a child enrolled in an extended day program; (“élève”) “regulations” means the regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”) “reserve fund” means a reserve fund established under section 417 of the Municipal Act, 2001 or section 7 or 8 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as the case may be; (“fonds de réserve”) “residential property” means residential property as defined in section 257.5; (“bien résidentiel”) “Roman Catholic” includes a member of an Eastern Rite Catholic Church that is in union with the See of Rome; (“catholique”) “Roman Catholic board” means, (a) a separate district school board, or (b) a Roman Catholic school authority; (“conseil catholique”) “Roman Catholic school authority” means, (a) a board of a rural separate school zone, or (b) a board of a combined separate school zone; (“administration scolaire catholique”) “rural separate school” means a separate school for Roman Catholics that is not under the jurisdiction of a district school board; (“école séparée rurale”) “rural separate school zone” means a separate school zone in respect of a rural separate school; (“zone d’école séparée rurale”) “school” means, (a) the body of elementary school pupils or secondary school pupils that is organized as a unit for educational purposes under the jurisdiction of the appropriate board, or (b) the body of pupils enrolled in any of the elementary or secondary school courses of study in an educational institution operated by the Government of Ontario, and includes the pupils who are enrolled in extended day programs in the unit or institution, the teachers, designated early childhood educators and other staff members associated with the unit or institution, and the lands and premises used in connection with the unit or institution; (“école”) “school authority” means, (a) a board of a district school area, (b) a board of a rural separate school, (c) a board of a combined separate school zone, (d) a board of a secondary school district established under section 67, (e) a board established under section 68, or (f) a board of a Protestant separate school; (“administration scolaire”) “school day” means a day that is within a school year and is not a school holiday; (“jour de classe”) “school section” means the area in which a public board has jurisdiction for elementary school purposes; (“circonscription scolaire”) “school site” means land or premises or an interest in land or premises required by a board for a school, school playground, school garden, teacher’s residence, caretaker’s residence, gymnasium, school offices, parking areas or for any other school purpose; (“emplacement scolaire”) “school year” means the period prescribed as such by, or approved as such under, the regulations; (“année scolaire”) “secondary school” means a school in which instruction is given in some or all of the last two years of the intermediate division and the senior division; (“école secondaire”) “secondary school district” means the area in which a public board has jurisdiction for secondary school purposes; (“district d’écoles secondaires”) “senior division” means the division of the organization of a school comprising the years of the program of studies following the intermediate division; (“cycle supérieur”) “separate district school board” means, (a) an English-language separate district school board, or (b) a French-language separate district school board; (“conseil scolaire de district séparé”) “separate school” means a school under the jurisdiction of a Roman Catholic board except, (a) in the provisions of Part V, and (b) in any other provision where the context indicates that a school under the jurisdiction of a Protestant separate school board is meant; (“école séparée”) “separate school supporter” means an English-language Roman Catholic board supporter or a French-language separate district school board supporter; (“contribuable des écoles séparées”) “separate school zone” means the area of jurisdiction of a Roman Catholic board; (“zone d’écoles séparées”) “special education program” means, in respect of an exceptional pupil, an educational program that is based on and modified by the results of continuous assessment and evaluation and that includes a plan containing specific objectives and an outline of educational services that meets the needs of the exceptional pupil; (“programme d’enseignement à l’enfance en difficulté”) Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the French version of the definition of “special education program” in subsection 1 (1) of the Act is repealed. (See: 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (3)) “special education services” means facilities and resources, including support personnel and equipment, necessary for developing and implementing a special education program; (”services à l’enfance en difficulté“) Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the French version of the definition of “special education services” in subsection 1 (1) of the Act is repealed. (See: 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (3)) “supervisory officer” means a person who is qualified in accordance with the regulations governing supervisory officers and who is employed, (a) by a board and designated by the board, or (b) in the Ministry and designated by the Minister, to perform such supervisory and administrative duties as are required of supervisory officers by this Act and the regulations; (“agent de supervision”) “teacher” means a member of the Ontario College of Teachers; (“enseignant”) “temporary teacher” means a person employed to teach under the authority of a letter of permission; (“enseignant temporaire”) “third party program” means a program operated by a person or entity other than a board under section 259 or 259.1. (“programme offert par un tiers”)  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (1-3); 1997, c. 43, Sched. G, s. 20 (1); 1999, c. 6, s. 20 (1); 2000, c. 11, ss. 1 (1), 21; 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table; 2005, c. 5, s. 21 (1); 2006, c. 28, s. 1 (1); 2006, c. 32, Sched. C, s. 15 (1); 2009, c. 25, s. 2 (1, 2); 2010, c. 10, s. 1; 2011, c. 1, Sched. 3, s. 1 (1); 2011, c. 9, Sched. 10, s. 1;
2012, c. 5, s. 1 (1); 2014, c. 11, Sched. 4, s. 1; 2021, c. 4, Sched. 11, s. 7 (2); 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (2-4). Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the French version of subsection 1 (1) of the Act is amended. (See: 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (4)) Bullying (1.0.0.1) For the purposes of the definition of “bullying” in subsection (1), behaviour includes the use of any physical, verbal, electronic, written or other means.  2012, c. 5, s. 1 (2). Cyber-bullying (1.0.0.2) For the purposes of the definition of “bullying” in subsection (1), bullying includes bullying by electronic means (commonly known as cyber-bullying), including, (a) creating a web page or a blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person; (b) impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the internet; and (c) communicating material electronically to more than one individual or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals.  2012, c. 5, s. 1 (2). Spouse (1.0.1) In the definition of “French-language public district school board supporter” in subsection (1), in subsection (9), and in sections 164, 177 and 179, “spouse” means, (a) a spouse as defined in section 1 of the Family Law Act, or (b) either of two persons who live together in a conjugal relationship outside marriage.  1999, c. 6, s. 20 (2); 2002, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 1; 2005, c. 5, s. 21 (2-4). Occasional teacher (1.1) For the purposes of this Act, a teacher is an occasional teacher if he or she is employed by a board to teach as a substitute for a teacher or temporary teacher who is or was employed by the board in a position that is part of its regular teaching staff including continuing education teachers but, (a) if the teacher substitutes for a teacher who has died during a school year, the teacher’s employment as the substitute for him or her shall not extend past the end of the school year in which the death occurred; and (b) if the teacher substitutes for a teacher who is absent from his or her duties for a temporary period, the teacher’s employment as the substitute for him or her shall not extend past the end of the second school year after his or her absence begins.  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 1 (1.2).  (See:  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (4).) (1.2) Repealed:  2009, c. 25, s. 2 (3). Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (1.2.1) A reference in this Act to the assessment commissioner or to the appropriate assessment commissioner shall be deemed to be a reference to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.  2001, c. 8, s. 204. When authority or obligation of parent vests in pupil (2) Where by or under this Act any authority or right is vested in, or any obligation is imposed upon, or any reimbursement may be made to, a parent or guardian of a pupil, such authority, right, obligation or reimbursement shall be vested in or imposed upon or made, as the case may be, (a) to the pupil, if he or she is 18 years old or older; and (b) with respect to a pupil who is at least 16 years old but under 18 years old, to the pupil in such circumstances or for such purposes as may be prescribed by the regulations.  2006, c. 28, s. 1 (2); 2021, c. 4, Sched. 11, s. 7 (1). Questions re proceeding as to formation of school section (3) Where any question arises touching the validity of any proceeding with respect to the formation, alteration or dissolution of a school section or touching any by-law with respect to any of such matters, the question shall be raised, heard and determined upon a summary application to a judge, and no proceeding or by-law with respect to the formation, alteration or dissolution of a school section is invalid or shall be set aside because of failure to comply with the provisions of any Act applicable to the proceeding or by-law, unless, in the opinion of the judge before whom the proceeding or by-law is called in question, the proceeding or by-law, if allowed to stand, would cause substantial injustice to be done to any person affected thereby.  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 1 (3). Constitutional rights and privileges (4) This Act does not adversely affect any right or privilege guaranteed by section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 or by section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  1997, c. 3, s. 2 (6). Same (4.1) Every authority given by this Act, including but not limited to every authority to make a regulation, decision or order and every authority to issue a directive or guideline, shall be exercised in a manner consistent with and respectful of the rights and privileges guaranteed by section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 and by section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (5). Existing school arrangements continued (5) Until altered under the authority of this or any other Act, all school jurisdictions and boards, including the names of the boards, as they existed on the 31st day of July, 1981, are continued subject to the provisions of this Act.  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 1 (5). Regulations re permanent improvements (6) The Minister may make regulations prescribing any property, work, undertaking or matter for the purposes of the definition of “permanent improvement” in subsection (1).  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (6). Separate school support in 1997 (7) A person who at any time in 1997 is a separate school supporter in connection with land assessed to the support of a separate school board is also, at that time, a separate school supporter for the purpose of qualifying as a separate school elector for the English-language separate district school board or the French-language separate district school board, as the case may be, the area of jurisdiction of which includes that land.  1997, c. 3, s. 2 (7). Entitlement to vote based on residence (8) Despite any provision of this Act, except subsection (9), or of any other Act, including clause 17 (2) (a) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, for the purposes of regular elections and by-elections, a person is not qualified to vote for a member of a board for an area unless the person resides in the area on voting day.  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (7); 2002, c. 17, Sched. D, s. 36 (1). (8.1) Repealed:  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (7). Exception (9) Subsection (8) does not apply to a person who is an owner or tenant of residential property in the area referred to in subsection (8), or who is a spouse of that person.  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (7); 1999, c. 6, s. 20 (3); 2005, c. 5, s. 21 (5). Entitlement to vote in the area of jurisdiction of a board (10) For the purposes of sections 50.1, 54, 58.8 and 58.9, a person is entitled to vote in the area of jurisdiction of a board if, on voting day, he or she, (a) resides in the area or is a person to whom subsection (9) applies; (b) is a Canadian citizen; (c) is at least 18 years of age; and (d) is not a person referred to in clause 17 (2) (d) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.  2002, c. 17, Sched. D, s. 36 (2). Interpretation (11) For the purposes of subsections (8) and (10), “resides” has the same meaning as in section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.  2002, c. 17, Sched. D, s. 36 (3). Trustee (12) A member of a board may be referred to as a trustee for any purpose related to this Act.  1997, c. 31, s. 1 (7). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1997 c. 31, s. 1 (1, 5-7) - 01/01/1998; 1997, c. 31, s. 1 (2-4) - 31/08/1998; 1997, c. 3, s. 2 (6, 7) - 24/04/1997; 1997, c. 43, Sched. G, s. 20 (1) - 31/12/1998; 1999, c. 6, s. 20 (1-3) - 01/03/2000 2000, c. 11, s. 1 (1, 2), 21 - 23/06/2000 2001, c. 8, s. 204
- 29/06/2001 2002, c. 17, Sched. D, s. 36 (1-3) - 01/01/2003; 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table - 01/01/2003; 2002, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 1 - 01/01/2003 2005, c. 5, s. 21 (1-5)
- 09/03/2005 2006, c. 28, s. 1 (1, 2)
- 20/12/2006; 2006, c. 32, Sched. C, s. 15 (1) - 01/01/2007 2009, c. 25, s. 2 (1-3)
- 15/12/2009 2010, c. 10, s. 1 (1, 2)
- 03/06/2010 2011, c. 1, Sched. 3, s. 1 (1) - 30/03/2011; 2011, c. 9, Sched. 10, s. 1 - 12/05/2011 2012, c. 5, s. 1 (1, 2)
- 01/09/2012 2014, c. 11, Sched. 4, s. 1 (1, 2) - 29/08/2016 2021, c. 4, Sched. 11, s. 7 (1, 2) - 19/04/2021 2023, c. 11, Sched. 2, s. 1 (1-4) - not in force PART I   MINISTRY OF EDUCATION and training