Inequities persist - Extracurriculars, clubs, activities, and fundraising in Ontario’s publicly funded

47% of schools in high- 80% of schools in 55% of elementary schools income areas offered high-income areas offered and 74% of secondary academic competitions arts clubs (e.g., school schools offered students compared to 16% of plays, bands, visual arts the opportunity to learn an schools in low-income clubs) compared to 66% instrument within school areas. [...] People for Education Inequities persist 1 Location, location, location: access to extracurricular and school activities depends on where students live Survey responses revealed that the availability of extracurricular activities and learning opportunities depends on the median family income of the school neighbourhood and whether the school is located in an urban or rural area.i Schools in high-in. [...] We are doing more with less money.” Secondary school principal, Central Ontario People for Education Inequities persist 8 The return of extracurricular and school activities places an increased strain on school staff In 2021, during the height of the pandemic, People for Education reported on the huge decrease in extracurricular and school activities offered in Ontario elementary and secondary sch. [...] People for Education Inequities persist 9 Organizing school activities and extracurriculars is voluntary for teachers and staff, and principals said that they noticed fewer staff had the time and energy to dedicate to the activities, in part because of ongoing staff shortages and increased student needs in the classroom. [...] The proportion of schools reporting that their students had the opportunity to learn an instrument within school hours fell from 68% in 2019-20 to 55% in 2022-23 for elementary schools and from 87% in 2019-20 to 74% in 2022-23 for secondary schools.