Understanding Bill 33: What Ontario’s School Policing Plan Means for our Local Communities

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An online teach-in hosted by Policing Free Schools is raising urgent questions about Bill 33—Ontario’s proposed Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025. If passed, the legislation would require public school boards to implement School Resource Officer (SRO) programs wherever local police services offer them. Bill 33 would also give the Ministry of Education expanded powers to take over school boards, rename schools, and direct the sale of school property—decisions typically made at the local level. While some officials argue the bill would improve school safety, many students, parents, and educators—especially in communities like Regent Park—are voicing concern. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) ended its SRO program in 2017 after students, particularly Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth, reported feeling intimidated by police in schools. Two speakers at the teach-in offered powerful insights: Andrea Vásquez, a community educator, outlined how Bill 33 follows a troubling trend of punitive education policy. Alexis Dawson, a former TDSB trustee, described how her board was placed under provincial supervision despite no evidence of financial mismanagement—losing their pay, resources, and decision-making powers. For Regent Park families committed to equity and safe learning spaces, Bill 33 poses serious questions. The conversation continues, and so does the organizing. 

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