Toronto/CMEDIA: The Classroom Supplies Fund is being launched by the Ontario government to provide elementary school homeroom teachers with direct access to $750 in funding each school year for classroom supplies.
“The days of teachers having to put their hands in their own pockets to pay for school supplies, those days are done,” Premier Doug Ford said at a classroom at a school in Etobicoke Wednesday, flanked by Education Minister Paul Calandra and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.
Ford recalled recently meeting teachers shopping for classroom supplies at Dollarama and paying out of their own pockets.
Calandra said he sometimes finds himself in similar situations.
“The same thing happens to me at the Stouffville Walmart. You know, I always run into teachers who are out there buying something. So this cuts that out,” he said.
Launched as part of the province’s 2026 budget, the new fund will ensure teachers have the materials they need in their classrooms without paying up front to ensure the provincial education system is supporting student success and helping them reach their full potential.
“Our government is making record investments so that our students have the support and supplies they need to succeed and grow in school,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The new $750 Classroom Supplies Card will give teachers across the province access to the resources they need, without forcing them to cover the costs themselves or wait to be reimbursed. It’s just one of the ways we are supporting our students and teachers while ensuring Ontario’s education system is focused on student success.”
Historic levels of education funding is being provided by Ontario in 2025-26, with an investment of $30.3 billion in Core Education Funding to focus key resources where they matter most: on student success.
Supervisors have been appointed to eight school boards to address concerns regarding growing deficits, depleting reserves and ongoing cases of mismanagement.
With access to $750 beginning in Sept 2026 , homeroom teachers will have each school year through a new provincial website, allowing them to order classroom supplies directly, with materials delivered to their schools.
A Classroom Supplies Card will be provided to each teacher directing them to the website, with instructions on how to access the site.
Speaking at a news conference at Queen’s Park Wednesday, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) President David Mastin welcomed the news about the purchasing cards, but said the government should not be presenting the idea as if it’s a gift ahead of bargaining.
Offering a grade-by-grade selection of commonly used classroom items, including writing supplies, notebooks, calculators, chalk, arts and crafts materials, tissues and paper towels, the website will facilitate elementary teachers to order what they need without paying up front and waiting for reimbursement, ensuring consistent access to supplies in every classroom across the province.
“Our government continues to make record investments to build an effective and strong education system. We are committed to protecting student learning and ensuring teachers have the support they need for every student to thrive,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “We will continue to strengthen accountability across the system and ensure that every investment is focused on student success and reaches the classroom where it matters most.”
Ontario passed the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025 in November 2025 which simplifies, streamlines and broadens the Minister of Education’s powers of oversight, including over school board finances, governance and program performance.
The selection of supplies available to support both educators and students would be informed by the input from elementary teachers and school boards.
Reflecting the government’s ongoing work to build a strong consistent and well-supported public education system, the Classroom Supplies Fund would provide a back-to-basics approach that is focused on improving student outcomes.
“We know that many teachers have been paying out of pocket for supplies. That isn’t fair for teachers or students,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “While school boards receive funding for classroom resources, we have not always seen those dollars consistently reach every classroom. That is why we are putting funds directly in the hands of teachers to ensure their classrooms are equipped to support student achievement.”
In a statement, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) called the purchase card announcement “an admission” of chronic underfunding in classrooms and noted it excludes high school teachers.
“It’s like handing a firefighter a cheque and telling them to buy a hose before they show up to put out a fire,” OSSTF President Martha Hradowy said in a statement. “The real solution is properly funding schools, so the resources students and educators need are already there.”
More information about how the government continues to make progress on its plan to protect Ontario, by making Ontario one of the most competitive places to invest and do business in the G7 by building a more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant economy, will be included in the 2026 Budget, to be released on March 26, 2026.
Recognizing Ontario elementary and secondary school educators who champion democratic values and civic engagement through innovative teaching practices, nominations are open for the new Elizabeth Dowdeswell Award for Advancing Democracy Through Education.
