Public Schools, Private Money Intersecting Determinants of

Health and Well-being

Lesley JohnstonSocial Planning Toronto

Goal – A quality public education system to support the development of the whole child so that all students, regardless of family income, have the opportunity to become healthy and responsible citizens

Education – The Great Equalizer

In Toronto poverty levels rose from 24% in 1990 to 32% in 2005 (Campaign 2000, 2010)

In 2012 383,000 Ontario children lived in poverty (Campaign

2000, 2013)

Child and Family Poverty

Family Income (JK-Grade 6) by Ethno-racial Group (TDSB, 2013)

Poverty is geographically concentrated (Hulchanski, 2007)

Geographic Distribution of Student Population by Family Income (JK-Grade

6) (TDSB, 2013)

School Board Funding

Over $500 Million entered the public system as private funds (People for Education, 2011)

Often for services and equipment that used to be provided by the school system (People for Education, 2009)

Fees and Fundraising

Average Funds Raised by TDSB Elementary Schools by LOI Quintile, 2009

Source: Winsa and Rushowy, 2011; TDSB, 2011

“Fundraising in the schools contributes to the creation of “Have” and “Have-not” schools. Some schools raise $200k. Others raise $0. I wonder what a tour of schools at either extreme would reveal in terms of what differences you would find in the classrooms, library, gym, art supply cabinets, yard and playground. What about the before and after school activities and programs? What about lunchtime extracurricular? What about field trips - how many, where?”

The collection of private monies to cover additional public costs presents a real threat to equality of opportunity for students and leads inevitably to inequitable outcomes.

Funding Education Fees Fundraising Foundations Centralized Equity Fund Parents

Policy Options

Thank-you!