Quebec children with disabilities kept out of school amid resource shortfalls

Thousands of Quebec students with disabilities have experienced breaks in services because of resource shortages, and some families have kept children home while schools and officials respond.

Many children with disabilities in Quebec are not attending school because the supports they need are not available. The CBC reports a nine-year-old, identified as Ellie, who is autistic and has dyslexia, has been staying home since November after her school could not provide the level of support it had previously. Two weeks before the end of the last school year, the Education Ministry told school boards to reduce spending by $570 million, according to administrators. Data shared with CBC show the number of students experiencing "breaks in services" rose from about 1,500 in 2021 to 3,417 in 2025. What is known: - A child profiled in the report has been kept home since November after support services declined at her school. - School administrators say the provincial Education Ministry directed boards to cut $570 million in spending. - Government figures obtained and shared with CBC show reported "breaks in services" increased from roughly 1,500 in 2021 to 3,417 in 2025. - The Protecteur national de l'élève (student ombudsman) listed schooling or service disruptions as a major concern and described such disruptions as violations under the Education Act in its 2023–24 report. Summary: These reported gaps in services have led some families to remove children from regular classes and have prompted complaints and legal actions by parents and advocacy groups. The Education Ministry says many affected students still attend part of the week and that it has increased some staffing and supports, and the next steps for resolving widespread service breaks are undetermined at this time.