We are writing as concerned parents of children attending Sunnylea Junior School to request your support in reinstating funding for a full-time special education teacher and to undertake an assessment of the needs at our school. Prior to the 2022/23 school year, our school had one full-time special education teacher which has been reduced to a half time resource.  The parent community was informed that this is due to “funding constraints.”

The COVID-19 pandemic’s significant impact on our children's education has been well documented and the TDSB Vision of Learning program states that “students with special education needs are welcomed, included and supported within well-resourced neighbourhood schools.” Many students at Sunnylea Junior School continue to require additional support for their development and the current resources are not sufficient to meet the need.

Sunnylea Junior School has a dedicated team of teachers and staff who work  tirelessly to support our children's diverse needs. However, with the challenges presented by the pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult to provide the level of support that children require. This has been further exacerbated by the reduction in special needs teacher allocations in recent years.

As concerned parents, we urge you to develop an approach to provide additional funds to hire a full-time special education teacher for Sunnylea Junior School. Our children deserve to receive necessary resources to thrive and succeed in their education.

Your support is essential to continue to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that fosters growth and development for all our children. We respectfully request a response that outlines an approach to take the necessary steps to support the special education needs of children at Sunnylea Junior School. 

By signing this petition, we are showing our strong support for a full time Special Education Teacher in the 2024-25 school year.