Educational Neglect and Child Protection in Ontario

Education is a basic human right, critical to the social and economic well-being of children and youth. It is so fundamental to a child’s well-being that Ontario courts have repeatedly recognized that educational neglect is a stand-alone child protection concern justifying state intervention. Courts in Ontario acknowledge that educational neglect is also a significant indicator of greater neglect within the child’s family. Education law, and child protection law, are remedies that should both be utilized to remedy educational neglect in a child’s life. Children involved with child welfare system are vulnerable and often fail to achieve basic educational goals as a result of preexisting neglect but also as a result of the system itself. Greater collaboration is needed between educators, social workers, and responsible Ministries to ensure that vulnerable children’s educational needs are met.