Parent groups concerned about changes to TDSB specialty schools

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While the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) finds ways to make admission to special school programs more equitable, parents and students worry it’s a death knell for the city’s best arts, science, math and tech high schools.

Last week, a parent group filed a complaint about the TDSB with the Ontario Ombudsman, claiming the TDSB is hiding information in its effort to rush curriculum changes to Toronto’s specialty schools. 

The complaint specifies a lack of transparency, data, expert or community consultation and insufficient time for trustees to review proposed changes before it was put to a vote.

They asked the Ombudsman to pause the TDSB’s special interest school rollout until the evidence can be thoroughly reviewed by trustees and communities. 

“What happens here sets the tone for all TDSB decision-making processes … French, sports, science, math,” said parent group spokesperson Judith Taylor, a University of Toronto professor.

“They’re hurting the students by rushing through these changes,” added Taylor, who has worked on equity issues in education for 20 years.

In an interview Wednesday, Taylor said the school board is “trying to establish equity by destroying programs rather than making new programs.”

Taylor’s fear is that these changes to the specialty high schools spells the gradual loss of all specialty programs — and not just arts programs such as music or dance, but math and science specialty programs, as well.

TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird said the TDSB heard — via the Enhancing Equity Task Force — that there are barriers for students to access these programs.

“We are very proud of these programs and want them to continue,” he insisted.

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“The admission program is kind of a Wild West right now, and we want to establish a central admissions process that will be more equitable and fair … that’s centralized and uniform.

“We want all students across the board to have access to great programs.”

The program structures, he said, are still being looked at.

What about admission to programs that require certain skills at a particular level — in music or math, for example? 

Bird said some kids may not have previous experience or private lessons to aid their progress, “but they may be interested and want to explore some of those things.”

Fair enough, but shouldn’t that be seen to prior to high school?

“We’re looking at that,” said Bird. “We want strong elementary programs throughout the city and strong arts programs at elementary schools, so we can set students up for success whether they are at a special high school or not.”