Public education in Ontario is supposed to be free—but for many GTA families, the costs are quietly adding up.
From field trip fees to tech fundraisers, from supply lists to “optional” extracurriculars, parents are increasingly footing the bill for what used to be included in a publicly funded system. And while some families can afford the added costs, others are quietly opting out—not because they want to, but because they have to.
💸 Breaking Down the Hidden Costs
A 2024 survey from People for Education found that Ontario parents pay an average of $250–$500 per child each year in school-related expenses. In the GTA, that number can be even higher.
Some of the most common expenses include:
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Field trip and activity fees
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Donations for classroom supplies or school improvement funds
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Tech contributions (iPads, Chromebooks, smartboards)
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School spirit wear, yearbooks, and class photos
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Extracurricular participation fees
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Lunch programs or fundraising drives
While some of these fees are truly optional, others are seen as expected—even when not mandatory.
⚠️ Equity Concerns Across the GTA
In wealthier neighbourhoods, parent councils often raise thousands of dollars annually to enhance programming. But in low- and middle-income communities, those same fundraising efforts yield much less—widening the gap between schools.
In Peel, for instance, some schools can subsidize full-day excursions to the Ontario Science Centre. Others can’t afford the buses.
Families in these schools often feel pressured to contribute even when it strains their household budgets. For newcomers or those on tight incomes, these expectations can feel exclusionary.
🧑🏫 What Teachers and Principals Are Seeing
Educators across the GTA say they try to keep costs low and never exclude students who can’t pay. But with shrinking budgets and rising costs, schools are increasingly dependent on parent contributions to fill the gap.
Many teachers report spending hundreds out of pocket to stock their classrooms—on everything from art supplies to pencils and snacks.
Boards have guidelines, but enforcement is inconsistent. Some schools offer hardship funds. Others rely on informal “pay what you can” models. The result? A patchwork of policies that leaves many families confused—and some students left behind.
🛠️ Rethinking the Model
To make public education truly accessible, education advocates are calling for:
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Clearer provincial guidelines on what schools can and cannot charge for
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Increased core funding for classroom materials and field trips
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A cap on annual fundraising expectations per student
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Centralized support funds for families in need
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Transparency on how parent-raised money is spent
Education shouldn’t depend on your postal code—or your ability to pay.
📘 The Learning Curve is GTA Weekly’s weekly look at education in the Greater Toronto Area—because every student’s journey deserves attention.
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👉 Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where we explore how alternative schools in the GTA are challenging traditional models—and what mainstream education can learn from them.
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