Ontario school year 2026–27: September 8 start, new curriculum, PA days
Ontario schools open September 8, 2026, with updated curriculum including Financial Literacy graduation requirement and expanded Black History content in Grades 7–8. Teachers have mandatory PA days focused on new teaching resources and assessment approaches.
Ontario's 2026–27 school year brings several changes for families: classes begin Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (the day after Labour Day), with mandatory Professional Activity (PA) Days on September 2 and 3 for staff preparation. The province has set 194 minimum instructional days and confirmed updates to curriculum and teacher professional development priorities.
Key Changes for 2026–27
- New Financial Literacy graduation requirement for secondary students
- Expanded Grade 7–8 History curriculum including new learning on Black history in Canada
- Kindergarten curriculum refresh emphasizing literacy, mathematics, and science and technology with consistent instructional approaches across classrooms
- New assessment and evaluation rules for secondary schools, including mandatory final evaluations and attendance/participation tracking starting this year
- PA Day topics focus on curriculum delivery, new classroom resources on the Edwin platform (Nelson Education), and implementation of updated expectations
The Ontario Ministry requires a minimum of three provincial PA Days per year (most boards schedule seven total). In addition to the early-September dates, families should expect scattered PA Days throughout autumn and winter—mark these now on your calendar for childcare planning, as they fall on regular weekdays.
If your child is starting Ontario public school for the first time or transferring mid-year, contact your catchment school by late August to ensure registration is complete. Newcomer students with developing English skills have access to English Language Learner (ELL) programs from Kindergarten through Grade 12 at no extra cost.
Sources
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