Parents of some kindergarten children who have autism are worried that the shortage of educational assistants (EAs) in schools could seriously affect their kids, especially those with high needs who need extra help in class.
“It’s heartbreaking. You’re concerned about your children’s future and that they won’t get the support they need to get an education to thrive in the future,” said Katelyn Andersen, whose four-year-old son with autism attends Locke’s Public School in St. Thomas, Ont., part of the Thames Valley District School Board.
Andersen is one of many parents urging the province to boost special education funding so school boards can hire more EAs to meet growing demands.
Her son requires level-two support, meaning he faces significant challenges with daily activities, such as verbal communication and maintaining focus. He needs assistance with toileting, dressing himself, and sometimes wanders into traffic or collides with other children, she explained.
Since November, an EA has been providing him one-on-one support, which Andersen said led to big improvements in his behavior and social skills. However, last week school officials unexpectedly informed her that the EA would be reassigned after January 23rd without any plans for a replacement.
A similar situation is happening for Nicole Grove, whose son Harrison goes to Pierre Elliott Trudeau French Immersion Public School in St. Thomas and also has level-two needs.
“Basically, we’re just a line in a budget to the Thames Valley School Board.”- Katelyn Andersen
Harrison previously had a full-time EA dedicated not just to him but also two other kids; however, starting February 2nd, the school will cut back on that full-time support and leave only one EA for all students working half days.
“He uses specialized transportation so [the EA] would help him get in and out of the van and keep an eye on him so he doesn’t try to escape from the yard. Losing those supports is going to be tough; I don’t know how he’s going to manage at school day-to-day,” said Grove.
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St. Thomas, Ont., mom Katelyn Andersen says the province needs to increase supports for educational assistants working with children who have special needs. (Isha Bhargava/CBC)
“At the school level, EA support is shifted from class to class based on students’ greatest need. Principals have authority over how best EAs should be allocated within their schools.”
However, Grove believes that these decisions overlook how they’ll affect both educators and all students-both those needing special assistance and others as well.
“I just think if EAs are moved around based on needs then how does one class with three special needs kids not require extra help?” she questioned.
“Once you pull that support away from them , the entire class suffers because teachers will need more focus helping those kids who had access before while others will miss out too. So you’re impacting an entire classroom or even whole school. This isn’t just affecting three kids.”
The Thames Valley District School Board currently operates under provincial supervision following financial mismanagement investigations. Their initial budget estimates indicate they’ll face $10.5 million deficit during 2025-2026 fiscal year along with approximately $22 million unappropriated accumulated deficit.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford states his administration provides record funding towards education including plans hire six thousand new teachers & EAS
Recently at Queens Park press conference premier Doug ford announced unprecedented amounts were being devoted towards educational institutions alongside intentions bringing onboard additional personnel members “.
In contrast mothers hailing from st. thomas insist local authorities must engage parents actively incorporate them key choices influencing child’s learning experiences “.”
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School board says staffing changes are based on needs
Both mothers were told by schools that these changes resulted from budget issues. They worry it might cause their children to fall behind academically or lead them into dangerous situations. “Basically, we’re just a line in a budget to the Thames Valley School Board,” said Andersen. “I honestly don’t foresee how my son can continue on in regular kindergarten. His needs are great enough that he absolutely requires additional support to thrive without it; it’s just a daily struggle until he either injures himself or someone else and we get called to pick him up.” The school board stated through CBC that its “special education department regularly adjusts EA staffing numbers at schools” according to dynamic needs throughout Thames Valley.” They added that Locke’s was given temporary EA support back in November but it has now been moved elsewhere due to changing requirements there. “There has not been a reduction in EA support across Thames Valley. Our EA staffing levels continue reflecting changing needs across our system,” read their statement.‘Less funding , greater demand’
EAs numbers may stay consistent yearly ; however student requirements have escalated dramatically while funding hasn’t kept pace said Mike Thomas president ETFO’s Thames valley branch. “Certainly gaps exist within Special Education financing ” stated thomas “with lesser funds available against growing demands it seems like fewer resources turn up inside classrooms instead simply due rising request levels ultimately affecting overall provision”. Sustained cuts initiated by province mean school districts find themselves forced into triage mode making do limited aid offered respectively putting unique pressures upon institutions like thames valley facing supervision statewide “Schools seem barely holding steady amidst very tight budgets” noted thomasSource link
