Growing Opposition to Class Size Policy Changes
Education advocates are intensifying calls for Ontario officials to maintain classroom enrollment limits after recent administrative decisions eliminated caps for intermediate grades. Provincial supervisor Rohit Gupta reversed Toronto District School Board trustees’ March 2025-2026 policy that restricted grades 4-8 classes to 32 students maximum.
Impact on Learning Environments
University-Rosedale MPP Jessica Bell warned that students face “ultra-large class sizes” this September. “Learning suffers when children receive less individual attention,” Bell stated at a Monday press briefing. “We’re seeing increased risks of disruptive behavior and declining achievement in core subjects.”
Current provincial regulations mandate that school boards maintain an average class size of 24.5 students across grades 4-8, without specifying maximums for individual classrooms. The TDSB’s since-reversed policy had implemented concrete caps to address overcrowding concerns.
School Board Defends Provincial Alignment
The school board stated in its response that removing class size limitations brings Toronto schools in line with provincial standards. “Staffing decisions will continue following enrollment patterns and existing agreements,” officials confirmed, adding that the change doesn’t signal imminent class size increases.
Parent Experiences Highlight Concerns
Tonia Krauser, parent to a Grade 8 student, described overcrowded conditions where children “sit on ledges, desks, and floors” during French lessons combining two classes. “We’re considering private schools specifically for their smaller class sizes,” Krauser revealed. “This wasn’t something I ever anticipated when I attended public schools.”
The education ministry redirected inquiries about the policy change to local school authorities. Provincial oversight of seven school boards continues following last June’s appointment of supervisors, including Gupta’s leadership at TDSB.
