What Is Staff Allocation?
Staff allocation is the process to determine how staff are placed in schools for the upcoming year. This planning helps ensure that every school has the staff required to support students in safe and welcoming learning environments.
This work is guided by several factors, including student enrolment, Ministry of Education requirements, and collective agreement provisions. At the heart of this process is our commitment to student achievement and well-being.
Why Does Staff Allocation Happen?
Each spring, school boards across Ontario estimate how many students will attend school in September.
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These enrolment projections are based on factors such as:
- Local community and demographic trends
- Expected housing growth
- Patterns of student movement and retention
- Immigration and newcomer settlement
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These projections help determine how many staff each school receives so that:
- Class sizes meet Ministry regulations
- Teaching and support staff are distributed across schools
- Staffing reflects actual student numbers
- Public funding is used responsibly
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How Does Staff Allocation Work?
Staffing decisions must follow Ministry class size regulations and collective agreement provisions. Most staffing is funded through the provincial model, core education funding, which is closely tied to enrolment.
Staff allocation is the first step in the annual TDSB budget process. To have staff in place for September and to meet collective agreement timelines, these decisions are made in the spring. In every case, the goal is to match staffing to student needs so that learning environments remain supportive and stable.
Classroom Organization
Once staff allocation has been approved and distributed to each school, the classroom organization process begins. Classroom organization applies to both elementary and secondary schools:
- Elementary classroom organization is shaped by enrolment, class size requirements, and collective agreements.
- Secondary staffing model organization considers course selection, program pathways, and timetabling needs while aligning with projected enrollment, staff allocation, and collective agreements.
The classroom organization process determines the configuration of classrooms for the upcoming school year. This work is done at the school level to ensure that the classroom organization reflects local needs.
School Staffing Committee
Once school principals receive their staff allocation and projected enrollment numbers, they call a Staffing Committee meeting to discuss the classroom organization. Staffing Committees are comprised of the Principal and Vice-Principal, Union Steward, and teaching staff. The Staffing Committee's role is outlined in the Elementary Collective Agreement and the OSSTF Secondary Staffing Binder.
The Staffing Committee develops multiple options of the organization model using the staff allocated and projected enrollment numbers while complying with Ministry class size limits and staffing rules. These models are then shared with all staff at the school for consultation and feedback. Once feedback has been gathered, principals determine which classroom organization model to share with their Superintendent of Education for approval.
During the Superintendent approval process, the model will be reviewed for Ministry of Education compliance and Collective Agreement provisions. Once the classroom organization model is approved, the school will continue working on staffing and preparing for the upcoming school year.
What Can Families Expect?
Staff allocation and classroom organization directly supports student learning in September. Families can expect that:
- Schools receive staff based on enrolment and Ministry requirements
- Class sizes and classroom organization meet provincial standards
- Resources are allocated fairly across the system
If staffing adjustments affect classroom organization in September, your school will communicate directly with you. Staff will support students through any transitions to help them feel safe, welcome, and included.