World News – CA – WATCH: Province provides $ 380 million in educational support

The Ontario government is again providing funding to families with new education spending in the COVID-19 era with a total of $ 380 million in assistance.

Starting today, a parent or guardian residing in Ontario can complete a simple online application through the Support for Learners website. Applications remain open until January. 15, 2021.

The new Learner Support Program offers direct, one-time payments to offset additional learning costs, whether their children attend school in person, online, or a mix of both.

Funds can support additional educational costs during COVID-19, e.g.. B.. Workbooks, school supplies, technology and development resources. Funding also helps with additional childcare costs, regardless of whether the child is in childcare or at home. This initiative is part of Budget 2020, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Assist, Restore.

The program was launched today by Premier Doug Ford, Stephen Lecce, Secretary of Education, and Rod Phillips, Secretary of the Treasury, at the Civic Center Resource Library in Vaughan.

« During this very difficult time, our parents have been the unsung heroes in the fight against COVID-19, whether it be examining their child before school or helping them with distance learning, » said Ford.

« Parents were there for us and our government will continue to be there for them. For this reason, we are providing additional payments to help families fight the second wave of COVID-19 by covering some of the costs of learning and childcare. « 

Parents or guardians residing in Ontario can submit one application per child to receive a one-time payment of:

$ 200 for each child ages 0-12; or
$ 250 if the child or youth is 0-21 years old with special needs

« COVID-19 has placed a lot of costs on families in this province, which is why we are once again providing financial support right into the pockets of working parents, » said Lecce. « Our priority remains to keep schools safe and open and to support families every step of the way through this incredible challenge. « 

« Whether kids go to school online, in person, or a mix of both, every parent in Ontario is feeling the burden of COVID-19, » Phillips said.

« We have heard from parents that new spending to support their child’s education in this COVID-19 era is weighing on their paperbacks. This $ 380 million investment in families builds on the $ 378 million given to parents during the first wave of COVID-19. For example, a family in Ontario with three children, including one with special needs, would receive 1 this year. Received $ 300 to cover the cost of an accessible workplace and technology that enables online learning. That is money well spent. « 

The government is determined to expand assistance to those who need it most. Parents receive assistance if their child is attending a publicly funded, private, First Nation-run, or federal government-run school (either in person or online), home-schooling, enrolled in childcare, or at home.

This investment is on top of the initial $ 378 million investment made by the government in Ontario’s Plan of Action: Responding to COVID-19, which was released in March and helped parents while schools and daycare centers in Ontario during the first wave of COVID -19 pandemic. Taken together, the Family Support and Learner Support programs provide significant relief for parents with home learning costs and childcare.

Ontario’s Plan of Action: Protect, Support, Recover is the next phase in a comprehensive plan of action to respond to the serious health and economic impact of COVID-19.

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Doug Ford, Ontario Prime Minister Stephen Lecce, Finance