Equitable and Inclusive Education for All? : Public Funding for Denominational Schools in Ontario

Roman Catholic separate schools' denominational right to receive public funding is a contentious issue in Ontario's educational system. This research analyzes and evaluates the policy to publicly fund denominational schools in Ontario. Ontario's publicly funded denominational schools historically served a purpose at Confederation; however, in light of Ontario's evolving demographics and growing problems reconciling Roman Catholic schools with diversity, publicly funding denominational schools today may no longer serve the needs of contemporary Ontario. This study conducts two policy analyses as its research design through completing two separate policy cycles. The first policy cycle recognizes that based upon Upper and Lower Canada's pre-Confederation diversity, extending public funding to denominational schools at Confederation was an effective way of protecting minority rights. The analysis in the second policy cycle, which examines how equitable and inclusive denominational schools are today in light of Ontario's evolved diversity, will determine if Roman Catholic schools are equitable and inclusive institutions that should continue to merit public funding in Ontario's future.