EDUCATION ACT
ONTARIO REGULATION 132/12
CLASS SIZE
Historical version for the period September 1, 2012 to March 26, 2014.
No amendments.
This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.
INTERPRETATION
Definitions
1. (1) In this Regulation,
“class”, in relation to elementary schools, means a group of pupils who are scheduled to spend more than 50 per cent of their
instructional time together during the cycle that includes October 31, but does not include a self-contained class established
for exceptional pupils; (“classe”)
“class”, in relation to secondary schools, means,
(a) a group of pupils,
(i) who are scheduled to be together for the purposes of instruction in a course for which a credit or part of a credit
may be earned, during a scheduled part of the day school program provided on instructional days,
(ii) who are each eligible to earn the same number of credits on successfully completing the course that he or she is
taking during that scheduled part of the day school program provided on instructional days, and
(iii) who are taught the course by a teacher who is responsible for the instruction of the course, the evaluation of the
progress of the pupils in that course and the reporting to the principal of the progress of the pupils in that course,
or
(b) a co-operative education class,
but does not include,
(c) a transfer course class, or
(d) a class established for exceptional pupils; (“classe”)
“co-operative education class” means a group of pupils,
(a) who are enrolled in a co-operative education program,
(b) who are scheduled to spend some instructional time together in school during the school year in connection with the
co-operative education program, and
(c) who are each eligible to earn the same number of credits on successfully completing the course that he or she is taking
in the co-operative education program; (“classe d’éducation coopérative”)
“course” means a course at the secondary school level that is assigned a common course code in the list of common course
codes published by the Ministry; (“cours”)
“cycle” means the number of days for which a schedule of classes in a school continues before the schedule is repeated;
(“horaire”)
“instructional day” has the same meaning as in Regulation 304 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (School Year
Calendar, Professional Activity Days), made under the Act; (“journée d’enseignement”)
“part-time”, in relation to an elementary school class, means a class scheduled to meet,
(a) on half-days, or
(b) on average, on three or fewer days per week; (“temps partiel”)
“transfer course” means a transfer course as described in the Ministry publication entitled “Ontario Secondary Schools
Grades 9 to 12 — Program and Diploma Requirements — 1999”. (“cours de transition”) O. Reg. 132/12, s. 1 (1).
(2) For the purposes of determinations under this Regulation in relation to elementary schools,
1
(a) pupils include pupils enrolled in full-day or part-time junior kindergarten or kindergarten;
(b) a class can consist of pupils enrolled in the same grade or in different grades; and
(c) kindergarten and junior kindergarten are to be considered grades. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 1 (2).
(3) For the purposes of determinations under this Regulation in relation to secondary schools,
(a) a class can consist of pupils enrolled in the same grade or in different grades and in the same course or in different
courses;
(b) a pupil taking a course as an independent study course shall not be considered a class or a part of a class; and
(c) the credit value of a class is the number of credits that each pupil in the class is eligible to earn on successfully
completing the course that he or she is taking in connection with the class. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 1 (3).
(4) For the purposes of this Regulation, a class is a mandatory kindergarten class for a school year if the class includes one
or more pupils enrolled in junior kindergarten or kindergarten and the board is required under Ontario Regulation 224/10
(Full Day Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten), made under the Act, to operate full day junior kindergarten or kindergarten
in the school in the school year. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 1 (4).
(5) This Regulation applies only to district school boards and to classes in schools operated by district school boards.
O. Reg. 132/12, s. 1 (5).
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES — FULL DAY JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN
Class size average
2. The average size in each school year of a board’s mandatory kindergarten classes shall be 26. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 2.
Class size determination
3. (1) Each board shall select for each school year a date not earlier than September 1 and not later than September 30 as
the date as of which class sizes in elementary schools shall be determined. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 3 (1).
(2) The average size in a school year of a board’s mandatory kindergarten classes shall be determined for the school year,
as of the date selected under subsection (1), as follows:
1. Identify in Ontario Regulation 224/10 (Full Day Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten), made under the Act, the
schools of the board in which the board is required to operate full day junior kindergarten and kindergarten classes in
the school year.
2. For the schools identified under paragraph 1,
i. determine the number of pupils enrolled in junior kindergarten or kindergarten classes, and
ii. determine the number of junior kindergarten and kindergarten classes in the schools.
3. Divide the number determined under subparagraph 2 i by the number determined under subparagraph 2 ii. O. Reg.
132/12, s. 3 (2).
(3) If a mandatory kindergarten class includes one or more pupils enrolled in full day junior kindergarten or kindergarten
and one or more pupils enrolled in any other grade,
(a) for the purposes of subparagraph 2 i of subsection (2), only the pupils in the class who are enrolled in junior
kindergarten or kindergarten shall be counted; and
(b) for the purposes of subparagraph 2 ii of subsection (2), the class shall be counted as the number obtained by dividing
the number of pupils in the class who are enrolled in junior kindergarten or kindergarten by the total number of pupils
in the class. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 3 (3).
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES — OTHER PRIMARY
Application
4. Sections 5 and 6 apply to classes of a board that consist only of pupils enrolled in the primary division, unless the class
is a mandatory kindergarten class that consists only of pupils enrolled in full day junior kindergarten or kindergarten.
O. Reg. 132/12, s. 4.
Class size limit
5. (1) A class to which this section applies shall have 23 or fewer pupils. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 5 (1).
(2) In each school year, at least 90 per cent of the classes described in section 4 shall have 20 or fewer pupils. O. Reg.
132/12, s. 5 (2).
Class size determination
2
6. The size in a school year of the classes of a board to which this section applies shall be determined for the school year
as of the date selected under subsection 3 (1). O. Reg. 132/12, s. 6.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES — GRADES 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8
Class size limit
7. The average size in each school year of the classes of a board that include one or more pupils enrolled in any of grades
4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall not exceed,
(a) for a board listed in the Table to this section, the number set out in Column 2 of the Table opposite the name of the
board; and
(b) for all other boards, 24.5.
TABLE
MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE, GRADES 4 – 8
Item
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
Column 1
Name of Board
Algoma District School Board
Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board
Avon Maitland District School Board
Bluewater District School Board
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
District School Board of Niagara
District School Board Ontario North East
Grand Erie District School Board
Greater Essex County District School Board
Halton Catholic District School Board
Halton District School Board
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
Keewatin-Patricia District School Board
Lakehead District School Board
Lambton Kent District School Board
Limestone District School Board
Near North District School Board
Peel District School Board
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
Rainbow District School Board
Rainy River District School Board
Renfrew County District School Board
Simcoe County District School Board
Superior-Greenstone District School Board
Thames Valley District School Board
Toronto Catholic District School Board
Toronto District School Board
Trillium Lakelands District School Board
Upper Grand District School Board
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Waterloo Region District School Board
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
York Catholic District School Board
York Region District School Board
Column 2
Maximum Class Size
24.03
24.60
26.40
25.40
25.60
26.10
21.60
23.85
24.60
25.20
25.10
25.50
25.10
24.32
22.00
24.79
24.35
24.40
23.30
24.52
24.70
24.10
22.38
24.10
24.60
18.50
24.99
25.70
23.24
24.41
25.20
25.00
24.95
24.90
24.90
25.27
O. Reg. 132/12, s. 7.
Class size determination
8. The average size in a school year of the classes of a board that include one or more pupils enrolled in any of grades 4, 5,
6, 7 and 8 shall be determined for the school year, as of the date selected under subsection 3 (1), as follows:
1. Determine the number of pupils enrolled in the board’s classes that include one or more pupils enrolled in any of
grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
2. Determine the number of the board’s classes that include one or more pupils enrolled in any of grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
3
3. Divide the number determined under paragraph 1 by the number determined under paragraph 2. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 8.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES — MIXED GRADES
Class size limit
9. (1) If a class includes one or more pupils enrolled in the primary division and one or more pupils enrolled in grade 4, 5,
6, 7 or 8, the class shall have 23 or fewer pupils. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 9 (1).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to mandatory kindergarten classes that consist only of pupils enrolled in full day junior
kindergarten or kindergarten. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 9 (2).
Class size determination
10. (1) The size in a school year of a board’s classes described in subsection 9 (1) shall be determined for the school year
as of the date selected under subsection 3 (1). O. Reg. 132/12, s. 10 (1).
(2) For greater certainty, a board’s classes described in subsection 9 (1) shall be included in the determination of class
sizes under section 8. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 10 (2).
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES — REPORTING
Reporting
11. (1) By October 31 in each school year, each board shall submit a report for the school year on class size in its
elementary schools to the Minister, in a format acceptable to the Minister. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 11 (1).
(2) The board shall ensure that, by October 31 in each school year,
(a) copies of the report are available to the public at the head office of the board and at the office of each school of the
board; and
(b) a copy of the report is submitted to the chair of the school council for each school of the board. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 11
(2).
SECONDARY SCHOOL CLASSES
Class size limit
12. The average size in each school year of a board’s secondary school classes shall not exceed 22. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 12.
Class size determination — average class size for a board
13. The average size in a school year of a board’s secondary school classes shall be determined for each school year, as
follows:
1. For each non-semestered class in each secondary school of the board, multiply the number of pupils enrolled in the
class as of October 31 in the school year by one-half of the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
2. For each non-semestered class in each secondary school of the board, multiply the number of pupils enrolled in the
class as of March 31 in the school year by one-half of the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
3. For each semestered class held in the first semester in each secondary school of the board, multiply the number of
pupils enrolled in the class as of October 31 in the school year by the credit value of the class. Total the results
obtained.
4. For each semestered class held in the second semester in each secondary school of the board, multiply the number of
pupils enrolled in the class as of March 31 in the school year by the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
5. Total the totals obtained under paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4. The result is the number of pupil credits for the board.
6. Determine the credit value of each non-semestered class in each secondary school of the board. Total the numbers
obtained.
7. Determine the credit value of each semestered class held in the first semester in each secondary school of the
board. Total the numbers obtained.
8. Determine the credit value of each semestered class held in the second semester in each secondary school of the
board. Total the numbers obtained.
9. Total the totals obtained under paragraphs 6, 7 and 8. The result is the number of classroom credits for the board.
10. Divide the number of pupil credits for the board, determined under paragraph 5, by the number of classroom credits
for the board, determined under paragraph 9. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 13.
Class size determination — average class size for a school
14. The average size in a school year of a secondary school’s classes shall be determined for each school year as follows:
4
1. For each non-semestered class in the secondary school, multiply the number of pupils enrolled in the class as of
October 31 in the school year by one-half of the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
2. For each non-semestered class in the secondary school, multiply the number of pupils enrolled in the class as of March
31 in the school year by one-half of the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
3. For each semestered class held in the first semester in the secondary school, multiply the number of pupils enrolled in
the class as of October 31 in the school year by the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
4. For each semestered class held in the second semester in the secondary school, multiply the number of pupils enrolled
in the class as of March 31 in the school year by the credit value of the class. Total the results obtained.
5. Total the totals obtained under paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4. The result is the number of pupil credits for the school.
6. Determine the credit value of each non-semestered class in the secondary school. Total the numbers obtained.
7. Determine the credit value of each semestered class held in the first semester in the secondary school. Total the
numbers obtained.
8. Determine the credit value of each semestered class held in the second semester in the secondary school. Total the
numbers obtained.
9. Total the totals obtained under paragraphs 6, 7, and 8. The result is the number of classroom credits for the school.
10. Divide the number of pupil credits for the school, determined under paragraph 5, by the number of classroom credits
for the school, determined under paragraph 9. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 14.
Reporting
15. (1) By June 30 in each school year, each board shall submit a report for the school year on class size in its secondary
schools to the Minister, in a format acceptable to the Minister. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 15 (1).
(2) A board shall ensure that, by June 30 in each school year,
(a) copies of the report are available to the public at the head office of the board and at the office of each school of the
board; and
(b) a copy of the report is submitted to the chair of the school council for each school of the board. O. Reg. 132/12, s. 15
(2).
(3) The report shall include the following:
1. The numbers determined for the board under each of the paragraphs of section 13.
2. The average size of the classes in each secondary school of the board, determined in accordance with section 14.
O. Reg. 132/12, s. 15 (3).
16. OMITTED (REVOKES OTHER REGULATIONS). O. REG. 132/12, S. 16.
17. OMITTED (PROVIDES FOR COMING INTO FORCE OF PROVISIONS OF THIS REGULATION). O. Reg. 132/12, s. 17.
Back to top
5