What Every Ontario Parent Should Know
Ontario’s Ministry of Education has rules that every public school board must follow to keep your child safe. These aren’t suggestions — they’re provincial directives. If your board isn’t following them, you have the right to ask why. Here’s what the rules say, in plain language.
What standards of behaviour can I expect at my child’s school?
Every school board must have a Code of Conduct that sets clear expectations for how everyone — students, staff, parents, and visitors — behaves in schools. This isn’t optional. The provincial rules require boards to:
- Create their own Code of Conduct that meets or exceeds the provincial standard
- Post visible signage in school entrances about behavioural expectations
- Have clear procedures for enforcing the Code
- Tell the school community how to report unacceptable behaviour
Policy reference: PPM 128 – The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct (effective September 1, 2024)
What must the school board do about bullying?
Boards are required to have a bullying prevention and intervention plan — not just a policy that sits in a binder. This includes cyberbullying. Specifically, your board must:
- Clearly define what counts as bullying, including cyberbullying
- Have procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents
- Provide support for both the targeted student and the student who bullied
- Follow specific timelines for taking action
- Create a safety plan for the student who was targeted
If your child reports bullying and nothing happens, the board may not be following its own obligations. You have the right to ask the principal or superintendent to explain what steps were taken and on what timeline.
Policy reference: PPM 144 – Bullying Prevention and Intervention (issued November 25, 2021)
What happens when a student misbehaves? Can they just be suspended?
The Ministry requires boards to use progressive discipline — meaning consequences should be proportionate, corrective, and supportive, not just punitive. Suspension or expulsion is supposed to be a last resort after earlier interventions have been tried. Boards must:
- Use a range of responses, from early intervention to suspension when necessary
- Emphasize restorative practices that repair harm and re-engage students
- Consider mitigating factors (age, ability, circumstances) before imposing consequences
- Focus on helping students learn from mistakes, not just punishing them
If your child is suspended without any prior conversation, warning, or support, the school may not be following the progressive discipline requirements. Ask what earlier steps were considered.
Policy reference: PPM 145 – Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour (effective October 17, 2018)
What can I do if my board isn’t following these rules?
These policies aren’t aspirational — they’re directives from the Ministry of Education. If you believe your school board isn’t meeting its obligations, here are your options:
- Ask the principal directly. Request a meeting and reference the specific PPM. Ask what procedures are in place and whether they’ve been followed.
- Escalate to the superintendent. If the principal’s response is unsatisfactory, put your concern in writing to the superintendent of education responsible for your school.
- Contact your school board trustee. Trustees are elected to represent families. They can raise policy compliance issues at the board level.
- File a complaint with the Ministry of Education. If a board is not complying with provincial directives, the Ministry has the authority to intervene.