Ontario Parent Advocacy Groups
A Directory for Parents, Communities, and Policymakers
Ontario has no central directory of parent advocacy groups working in education. This resource fills that gap. Whether you are concerned about school board governance, special education supports, inclusive classrooms, school safety, or equitable funding, these organizations can help you connect with others, understand your rights, and take informed action.
This directory lists 46 organizations across 10 categories. Many groups work across multiple categories. It includes both volunteer-led advocacy groups and professional services that help parents navigate the education system.
Know of an organization that should be listed? Use our contact form to let us know.
Last updated: March 2026
Categories
- School Board Accountability & Governance (9)
- Public Education Funding & Infrastructure (7)
- School Safety & Violence Prevention (3)
- Special Education & Disability Advocacy (8)
- Special Education Navigation & Consulting (6)
- Gifted Education (1)
- Provincial Parent Orgs & School Council Networks (5)
- Catholic & French-Language Education (3)
- Alternative Education & Homeschooling (1)
- Legal Advocacy for Students (3)
School Board Accountability & Governance
Groups focused on school board transparency, trustee accountability, policy compliance, and parent rights within the governance structure.
EMPOWR (Educating Minds: Parents of Waterloo Region)
Location: Waterloo Region
Website: empowrconnect.substack.com
Social: Substack, Podcast
Grassroots parent and citizen collective examining local education policies in Waterloo Region. Covers school board governance, Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) accountability, and education policy decisions made without widespread community consultation. Also explores alternative schooling options including homeschooling and learning pods.
Concerned Parents Association of London & Area (CPAL)
Location: London and Southwestern Ontario
Website: cpal.substack.com
Social: Substack, X (Twitter)
Parent, educator, and citizen group monitoring the Thames Valley District School Board and the public school system. Published hundreds of articles on education policy, supported provincial education directives, and advocated for transparency reporting. Active in ensuring school board adherence to curriculum standards.
DDSB Concerned Parents
Location: Durham Region
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook
Grassroots group of parents in the Durham District School Board area uniting around concerns about curriculum content, religious accommodation practices, and parental access to information about what is being taught in schools.
Parents Against OPSBA
Location: Province-wide
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook
Organized for the purpose of monitoring and responding to the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association’s (OPSBA) governance and spending decisions. Advocates for greater accountability of the umbrella body that represents English-language public school boards.
Ontario Children’s Advancement Coalition (OCAC)
Location: Province-wide
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)
Dedicated to ensuring young people live in safe, nurturing environments where they are active participants in their lives and in social change. Advocates for child welfare and education accountability across Ontario.
Hold Schools Accountable (HSA)
Location: Province-wide
Website: holdschoolsaccountable.ca
Social: Website, GoFundMe
Parent-led network campaigning to amend the Education Act to require all publicly funded Ontario schools and boards to provide parents with comprehensive, anonymized investigation reports for serious incidents. Founded after a family’s experience with a school covering up a violent assault on their child. Petitions for mandatory reporting timelines and transparency in serious incident investigations.
Education Reform for Ontario
Location: Province-wide
Website: educationreform.ca
Social: Website
Advocates for a Parents’ Bill of Rights and critiques Ontario’s education governance model for relegating parents to advisory roles. Documents concerns about school board focus on political agendas over parent advocacy on issues including curriculum, school violence, and declining educational performance.
Woke Watch Canada
Location: Province-wide (Ontario focus)
Website: wokewatchcanada.substack.com
Social: Substack
Reader-supported newsletter covering concerns about ideology in Ontario schools. Has hosted a Parents’ Rights Summit and publishes analysis of Ministry of Education policy, school board governance decisions, and curriculum implementation. Tracks policy developments affecting parent input.
Concerned Parents of Canada (CPC)
Location: Province-wide
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook
Opposes discrimination, hate, segregation, and religious practices in public schools. Advocates for a focus on core education, sports, drama, and scientific inquiry within school curricula.
Public Education Funding & Infrastructure
Organizations advocating for adequate funding, safe school buildings, and equitable resource allocation across Ontario’s publicly funded education system.
People for Education
Location: Toronto (Province-wide reach)
Website: peopleforeducation.ca
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn
Independent registered charity working to support and advance public education through research, policy, and public engagement. Conducts the Annual Ontario School Survey documenting gaps in access to arts, special education, and school staffing. One of the most established and data-driven parent advocacy organizations in the province.
Fix Our Schools
Location: Toronto (Province-wide campaign)
Website: fixourschools.ca
Social: X (Twitter), Facebook
Parent-led, non-partisan campaign focused on ensuring all publicly funded school buildings, portables, and schoolyards are safe, healthy, and well-maintained. Successfully pressured the Ministry of Education to release school-by-school disrepair data. Tracks the provincial repair backlog (over $16.8 billion as of latest reporting).
Fund Our Schools
Location: Province-wide
Website: fundourschools.ca
Social: Facebook (forpublicschools)
Coalition of parents, caregivers, students, education workers, and communities advocating against underfunding of public education. Highlights the impact of inflation-adjusted funding cuts on students and education workers, and organizes rallies and campaigns for increased education investment.
Ontario Parent Action Network (OPAN)
Location: Province-wide
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook (@parentaction4ed), X (@parentaction4ed)
Network of parents, guardians, and grandparents advocating for fully funded, equitable public schools. Links education funding to broader social issues including class sizes, student supports, housing, and worker protections. Works in coalition with education worker organizations.
Ontario Families for Public Education
Location: Province-wide
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook
Concerned Ontario parents providing plain-language updates on how government policy changes affect their children’s education. Monitors funding decisions, class sizes, and the impact of policy changes on school communities.
Education Action Toronto
Location: Toronto
Website: educationactiontoronto.com
Social: Website (School Magazine)
Community organization focused on challenges facing students in the Toronto District School Board, with particular attention to over 40,000 special needs students navigating an opaque system. Publishes School Magazine covering education policy issues.
Campaign for Public Education
Location: Province-wide
Website: campaignforpubliceducation.ca
Social: Website
Maintains a comprehensive directory of all 72 Ontario school boards and organizes campaigns to defend publicly funded education. Monitors legislative changes affecting school boards and trustee governance.
School Safety & Violence Prevention
Organizations focused on student safety, bullying prevention, violence reporting, and enforcement of safe schools policies (PPMs 128, 144, 145).
Ontario School Safety
Location: Province-wide
Website: ontarioschoolsafety.com
Social: Website
Advocates for every student’s right to a safe education and every educator’s right to a healthy workplace. Campaigns for improved compliance with health and safety legislation in schools, better violence reporting systems, and transparent data collection on school incidents.
Safe@School
Location: Province-wide
Website: safeatschool.ca
Social: Website
Provincial project led by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) and the Centre d’orientation de prévention des agressions (COPA National), funded by the Ministry of Education. Provides resources on bullying prevention, safe schools policy, and creating inclusive school environments. Launched in 2007.
Unplugged Canada
Location: Province-wide
Website: Search for current URL
Social: Website, Social media
Educates parents about the risks of early smartphone use. Through advocacy, resources, and an online pledge, empowers parents and caregivers to unite in delaying smartphone access for children. Connected to the broader movement around social media’s impact on student mental health and safety.
Special Education & Disability Advocacy
Organizations supporting families navigating the special education system, advocating for inclusive education, and protecting the rights of students with disabilities.
Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC)
Location: Province-wide
Website: ontarioautismcoalition.com
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn
Parent-led organization advocating for accessible, ethical, evidence-based, and comprehensive publicly funded services for individuals with autism. Focuses on school exclusions, special education policy, and student suspensions. Partners with MPPs to collect data on school exclusion practices and publishes education-specific resources for parents.
Autism Ontario
Location: Province-wide (local chapters)
Website: autismontario.com
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)
The province’s leading source of information and referral on autism, with over 50 years of service. Developed “Negotiating the Maze: Strategies for Effective Advocacy in Schools” in partnership with Mahony Advocacy. Provides tools for establishing positive working relationships with schools and navigating the IEP process.
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO)
Location: Province-wide (local chapters)
Website: ldao.ca
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)
Works to improve the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities. Offers the “Partnering with Schools for Student Success” workshop promoting collaborative advocacy. Connects parents with local resources and community supports. Active in SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) engagement.
Inclusion Action in Ontario
Location: Province-wide
Website: inclusionactionontario.ca
Social: Website
Non-profit dedicated to the inclusion of students with disabilities in education and community life. Acts as the provincial champion for inclusive education as the foundation for an inclusive life. Works directly with parents and educators to support classroom inclusion.
Community Living Ontario
Location: Province-wide (105+ local affiliates)
Website: communitylivingontario.ca
Social: Facebook, LinkedIn
Confederation of over 105 local associations advocating for the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Promotes inclusive education where students attend neighbourhood schools with their peers. Part of the Inclusive Education Advocacy Initiative alongside ARCH Disability Law Centre and Inclusive Education Canada.
Family Alliance Ontario
Location: Province-wide
Website: family-alliance.com
Social: Website
Peer-support network believing children with disabilities have a right to inclusive education in neighbourhood schools. Since 1997, has connected self-advocates, families, and friends of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Toronto Family Network provides specialized education system navigation support.
Easter Seals Ontario
Location: Province-wide
Website: easterseals.org
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)
Provides a Parent Advocacy Kit for families concerned about services for children and youth with physical disabilities. Serves as a voice for students with physical disabilities in the education system and connects families with supports and resources.
Parents for Children’s Mental Health
Location: Province-wide
Website: Hosted through CMHA Ontario
Social: Website
Hosted by parents of children who use mental health services in Ontario. Provides articles and resources on advocating for children with mental health challenges in the school system. Connected to the broader network of supports through the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Special Education Navigation & Consulting
Professional advocates and consultants who help Ontario parents navigate the IPRC, IEP, and special education processes. While these are paid services rather than volunteer advocacy groups, they fill a critical gap for families who need expert support.
Speaking Up
Location: Province-wide
Website: speakingup.ca
Social: Website
Special needs educational support and resource centre providing parents with tools and strategies to ensure schools are meeting their children’s needs. Offers forums, discussions, and articles on education rights, IEPs, and navigating the complex special education system.
School Advocacy Hamilton
Location: Hamilton
Website: schooladvocacy.ca
Social: Website
Focuses on meeting the needs of students with disabilities and behavioural challenges in the public education system. Maintains a comprehensive directory of education and advocacy links for Ontario parents.
Parents Advocacy in the School (PAS)
Location: Province-wide
Website: parentsadvocacy.com
Social: Website
Informs parents about using community groups and organizations—including SEACs, CAS, and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre—to advocate on behalf of children with special needs in the school system.
The Parent Advocate
Location: Southern Ontario
Website: theparentadvocate.ca
Social: Website
Offers IEP review and development, assessment support, and advocacy at school meetings. Empowers parents to become confident advocates through customized communication tools and advocacy support plans. Partners with psychology clinics across southern Ontario.
Horizon Education Consulting
Location: Ontario (serves Canada-wide)
Website: horizoned.ca
Social: Website
Special needs education consulting for parents of students with autism, learning disabilities, giftedness, ADHD, mild intellectual profiles, and sensory or anxiety challenges. Assists with behavioural issues, suspension appeals, IPRC process, IEP reviews, and secondary school program selection.
Progressive Steps
Location: Ontario
Website: progressivesteps.ca
Social: Website
Provides education and support to enable parents and guardians to become proactive advocates for their children’s educational needs. Certified Special Education Advocate assists parents through IEP and IPRC meetings with the objective of developing informed, proactive advocates.
Gifted Education
Organizations advocating for appropriate programming, identification, and support for gifted and bright learners in Ontario schools.
Association for Bright Children of Ontario (ABC Ontario)
Location: Province-wide (chapters in London, Ottawa, Peel, Halton, York Region, and more)
Website: abcontario.ca
Social: Facebook
Volunteer-based provincial advocacy group established in 1975. Provides information, advocacy, and support to parents of bright and gifted children through networking, an annual conference, and local workshops. Offers the parent voice to local school boards, educators, professional groups, and the Ontario Ministry of Education. Provides IEP development resources specific to gifted learners.
Provincial Parent Organizations & School Council Networks
Province-wide organizations that serve as umbrella bodies for parent engagement, school councils, and parent involvement committees across Ontario’s school boards.
Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations (OFHSA)
Location: Province-wide
Website: ofhsa.on.ca
Social: Website
Founded in 1916, OFHSA is the independent voice of parents actively supporting public education at the school, school board, and provincial level. Holds a seat at the Ministry of Education Partnership Table. Provides leadership training to school council members, lobbies federal and provincial governments, and runs programs to help students reach their full potential.
Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE)
Location: Province-wide
Website: oapce.org
Social: Website
Since 1939, the provincial not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting Catholic education in Ontario. Provides publications offering perspectives, strategies, and real stories to strengthen parent involvement in Catholic education governance. Has directors representing boards across the province.
Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC)
Location: Ottawa
Website: ocasc.ca
Social: LinkedIn
Independent, parent-driven umbrella organization for school councils in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). Facilitates communication within OCDSB communities, connects school councils, and provides a forum for sharing ideas and advocating for student achievement.
Waterloo Region Assembly of Public School Councils (WRAPSC)
Location: Waterloo Region
Website: wrdsb.ca/…/wrapsc
Social: Website
Independent, parent-run, non-political umbrella organization of school councils of the Waterloo Region District School Board, founded in 2000. Made headlines in 2025 for publicly opposing the province’s proposed elimination of elected school board trustees.
Coalition of Concerned Parents & Tax Payers
Location: Province-wide
Website: Facebook
Social: Facebook
Concerned parents seeking and sharing information regarding curriculum, policies, and parent access within Ontario’s publicly funded school system.
Catholic & French-Language Education
Organizations focused on the governance and parent engagement specific to Ontario’s Catholic and French-language school systems.
Parents partenaires en éducation (PPE)
Location: Province-wide (French-language)
Website: Search for current URL
Social: N/A
Parent-run organization supporting parents and guardians of children in French-language schools across Ontario. Strives to inform, support, and equip families to play an active role in their child’s French-language education.
Canadian Parents for French – Ontario
Location: Province-wide
Website: cpf.ca
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)
Engages families and interest groups involved in official languages and French-language education. Supports parents navigating French immersion and French-language school options. Creates an environment supportive of French-second-and-additional-language (FSL) education.
One School System
Location: Province-wide
Website: oneschoolsystem.org
Social: Website
Human rights organization advocating for the amalgamation of Ontario’s public and Catholic school systems into a single, secular system for each official language. Argues the current four-system structure creates inequities and wastes approximately $1.5 billion annually.
Alternative Education & Homeschooling
Organizations supporting families choosing home-based or alternative education paths and advocating for their right to do so.
Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents (OFTP)
Location: Province-wide
Website: ontariohomeschool.org
Social: Website
Serves as the liaison between the Ontario homeschooling community and the Ministry of Education, school boards, and other agencies. Promotes and supports homeschooling as a viable education option. Maintains a directory of regional support groups and resources covering traditional methods, Charlotte Mason, classical education, and unschooling.
Legal Advocacy for Students
Organizations providing legal support, rights education, and systemic advocacy for children and youth in the education system.
Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY)
Location: Toronto (Province-wide services)
Website: jfcy.org
Social: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)
Non-profit legal aid clinic with over 40 years of experience protecting the legal rights of children and youth in Ontario. Provides legal representation for students facing conflicts with the education system. Employs Education Navigators to support young people in accessing education. Advocates for law and policy reform affecting children’s education rights.
ARCH Disability Law Centre
Location: Toronto (Province-wide services)
Website: archdisabilitylaw.ca
Social: Website
Specialty legal clinic focused on disability rights. Published an advocacy toolkit on “Your Right to Not Be Excluded from School in Ontario.” Part of the Inclusive Education Advocacy Initiative. Provides legal information and representation on education-related disability discrimination.
Pro Bono Ontario
Location: Province-wide
Website: probonoontario.org
Social: Website
Provides free legal information and resources for Ontario residents, including a dedicated guide on “Questions and Answers Parents May Have Regarding Special Education” and resources on combatting antisemitism in schools. Helps parents understand their legal rights within the education system.
About This Directory
This directory was compiled through independent research by School Board Research as part of ongoing doctoral research into Ontario school board governance and parent empowerment. Inclusion in this directory does not imply endorsement of any organization’s positions or activities, nor does School Board Research have any affiliation with the groups listed unless otherwise noted.
Organizations were identified through publicly available information including web searches, social media, government resources, and existing advocacy directories. Details were accurate at the time of compilation but may change. We encourage readers to verify current information directly with each organization.
This directory is intentionally non-partisan. It includes groups from across the political spectrum because parent empowerment is not a partisan issue. The common thread is that all of these organizations involve parents exercising their voice in the education of their children.
If your organization should be included, or if any information needs updating, please use our contact form.