1. Understand Ontario’s education laws

Both Ontario's Education Act and Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act say that children have the right to go to school. A child who is 6 years old before the first day of school in September must go to school. Most children also go to a kindergarten program when they are 4 or 5 years old, but this is not required.

Children in Ontario must go to school until they are 18 years old or until they graduate high school, whichever happens first. Most students graduate from high school when they are 17 or 18 years old.

A school can't refuse to admit your children because you don't have:

• proof of immigration status or proof that you've applied for status
• a work permit or Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) coverage

Visitors to Canada

The rules about school can be different for children who are in Canada with valid visitor status. The school might also ask you to pay international student fees. The school can refuse to register the child until the fees are paid. to pay international student fees. The school can refuse to register the child until the fees are paid.