Ontario Launches Student and Family Support Offices in Simcoe-Grey

Province building a strong, accountable education system by ensuring parents can directly raise concerns, get help and find solutions faster

NEWS: September 1, 2026 –  For Immediate Release

STAYNER, ON – The Ontario government is expanding Student and Family Support Offices to all 72 school boards across the province, giving parents and families a clear, effective way to get help regarding their child’s education and find solutions faster. Today, Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey, announced that all school boards in Simcoe-Grey now have Student and Family Support Offices in place, providing families with an additional way to get answers on broader community concerns, navigate complex issues and receive the information and support they need. This initiative is one more way the government is delivering on its broader plan to make school boards more accountable and focused on student success with a back-to-basics approach that strengthens student achievement and prepares them for rewarding careers.

Below is contact information for the Student and Family Support Offices in Simcoe-Grey, which can also be found on the school boards’ main webpages:

Bluewater District School Board

Website: Student & Family Support Office

Email: supportoffice@bwdsb.on.ca

MonAvenir Catholic School Board

Website: Student & Family Assistance Office

Phone: 1-833-626-9640

Simcoe County District School Board

Website: Student & Family Support Office

Email: supportoffice@scdsb.on.ca

Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board

Website: Student & Family Support Office

Email: supportoffice@smcdsb.on.ca

“Our schools and educators do excellent work every day supporting students and families in our communities,” said MPP Saunderson. “These new offices will provide parents with an additional resource when more complex concerns arise, helping families navigate the education system and get the support they need. I’m pleased to see this additional support now available across Simcoe-Grey.”

Student and Family Support Offices review concerns raised by parents to help address matters that need to be escalated following initial engagement with a child’s teacher and principal. As part of their mandate, these offices streamline the response process for families by acknowledging inquiries within two business days and aiming to provide an answer within five business days. School boards are also expected to ensure responses to parent inquiries are conducted in a clear manner that is easily understood by a parent and include relevant and accurate information that addresses the specific inquiry.

“Parents should have a clear and consistent way to raise concerns and get answers when it comes to their child’s education,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “We are strengthening accountability across our school boards and making sure families can get the support they need when they need it. Everything we are doing is focused on improving student achievement and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

This will make the education system more responsive and accessible for families by

ensuring existing resources can be directed to help students, parents and families navigate the education system and make sure their concerns are addressed. The Ministry of Education will collect information regularly from all 72 school boards to identify patterns and trends about the types of concerns parents are raising, helping to find ways to improve processes so students and families receive better support.

Student and Family Support Offices have already been operating in supervised school

boards, with 95 per cent of family inquiries acknowledged within two business days and nearly 90 per cent receiving a response within five business days or an estimated response date for more complex matters. The experience from these offices has helped inform the expansion of this consistent approach to all school boards across the province.

These actions reflect the government’s continued focus on upholding public trust in

Ontario’s publicly funded education system and are part of the government’s plan to build a strong, accountable and well-supported public education system with a back-to-basics approach that is focused on improving student outcomes.

QUICK FACTS

The province is providing direct access to funding for elementary homeroom teachers to purchase classroom supplies.

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