TORONTO – Since the funds that school boards receive from the Province are not always used to purchase the classroom supplies teachers need, and because teachers often pay for them out of pocket, the Ontario government has decided to take action, announcing the “Classroom Supplies Fund,” a new program that will provide elementary school teachers with $750 each per school year to directly purchase materials for their classrooms.
The fund, which will be implemented as part of the 2026 provincial budget, will ensure that teachers have everything they need without having to pay upfront. “The new $750 Classroom Supplies Card will give teachers across the province access to the resources they need, without forcing them to cover the costs themselves or wait to be reimbursed. It’s just one of the ways we are supporting our students and teachers while ensuring Ontario’s education system is focused on student success,” Premier Doug Ford said today while presenting the initiative alongside Ministers Paul Calandra (Education) and Peter Bethlenfalvy (Finance) – in the pic above, from the video on Ford’s Twitter X, Calandra and Ford.
“We will ensure that every investment is focused on student success and reaches the classroom where it matters most” Bethlenfalvy said. “We know that many teachers,” Calandra added, “have been paying out of pocket for supplies. That isn’t fair for teachers or students,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “While school boards receive funding for classroom resources, we have not always seen those dollars consistently reach every classroom. That is why we are putting funds directly in the hands of teachers to ensure their classrooms are equipped to support student achievement.”
Starting in September 2026, teachers will have access to $750 each year through a new provincial website that will allow them to order classroom supplies directly, with delivery to their schools. Each teacher will receive a Classroom Supplies Card with instructions on how to access the site, which will offer a selection of materials such as notebooks, calculators, chalk, art supplies, tissues, and paper towels. This will make it easier for teachers to order what their students need without paying upfront, ensuring consistent access to supplies in every classroom across the province—access that until now has evidently depended largely on the dedication of the teachers themselves.
