October 6, 2025
Dear Families,
Reorganization is a yearly process that happens in the first few weeks of September, once schools confirm how many students have arrived compared to spring enrolment projections.
Enrolment can shift for many reasons, including families moving, new registrations, transfers to other schools, immigration patterns, or program choices. Because these numbers can change, staffing and class groupings are reviewed to keep class sizes balanced.
This may mean sometimes adjusting class configurations (adding or combining classes) or reassigning teachers so that we are effectively managing our resources.
We know these changes can feel disruptive, and we thank families for their patience and understanding. We greatly appreciate the partnership of parents and guardians in guiding their children through this transition and encouraging them to embrace change and new experiences with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions:
Who makes reorganization decisions?
Reorganization decisions are made by Board staff, who review enrolment across all schools and adjust staffing using established guidelines. These decisions are guided by Ministry funding parameters and teacher collective agreements to ensure fairness and consistency.
Why can class numbers or teacher assignments change after school starts?
Each spring, staffing is planned based on projected enrolment and submitted to the Ministry of Education. Because families may move or choose other schools, actual enrolment in September can be higher or lower than expected.
Since staffing is funded based on confirmed enrolment, all school boards must adjust in September to ensure staffing aligns with Ministry funding parameters and collective agreement requirements.
For example, if a school was staffed for 17 classes based on a projected enrolment of 400 students, but only 380 arrived, the school may only require 15 or 16 classes. This can lead to teachers being reassigned or the creation of combined (split-grade) classes.
When will changes take place, and what can I expect?
For the 2025–26 school year, changes are effective October 1.
If your child’s class is impacted, a letter is sent home from your child’s principal with specific details.
As part of reorganization, students may:
Receive a new teacher
Move to a different classroom
Be placed in a split-grade class
If you have questions or would like to discuss the transition, please contact your child’s principal.
My child’s class is changing to a split-grade. How will this affect learning?
Students in combined classes receive the same quality of education as those in single-grade classes. Research shows they do just as well or better, particularly in areas such as language and reading.
Combined classes also offer unique benefits, helping students develop independence, responsibility, and social skills as students learn alongside peers at different grade levels. For more information, families can review the Ontario Introduction to Combined Grades.
Why is my child’s French Immersion/Extended French class still without a permanent teacher?
Ontario is experiencing a province-wide shortage of French teachers, a challenge affecting school boards across the province. While demand for French programming remains strong, with 20% of TCDSB elementary schools offering French Immersion or Extended French, not every position can always be filled before the start of the school year. We recognize this is not ideal for families and appreciate your patience as we work to address these challenges.
To address the shortage, the province recently announced a $55.8 million investment to expand teacher education seats in areas of high demand like French with the goal of training 2,600 new teachers by 2027.
How are class sizes determined?
Classes are organized based on Ministry funding parameters and in accordance with collective agreements. Some grades have “hard caps,” while others are based on board-wide averages.
When reorganizing classes in September, the following guidelines apply:
Kindergarten: Board average of 26 students with a maximum of 29 students.
Grades 1–3: Maximum of 20 students (with10% of classes allowed to go up to 23).
Grades 4–8: Board average of 24.5 students, with no class above 29 for split-classes and 31 for single grade classes.
Why are changes happening weeks after school started?
Reorganization happens towards the end of September once enrolment is confirmed. It takes a few weeks for enrolment to stabilize and for the Board to be confident in final numbers.
Why did my child’s teacher have to change?
We know how important teacher–student connections are. To keep the process fair across all schools, staffing decisions follow collective agreements, which are based on factors like teacher seniority. These provisions ensure changes are made consistently and respectfully for both students and staff.