Support Catholic Education
Are you registered as a Catholic school supporter?
Like many Catholics, you may be surprised to find out you are not!
Read further to find out what this means.
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What does school support mean?
Eligibility to attend a Catholic school is based on the written request of the Roman Catholic ratepayer to have the education portion of his/her property tax directed to the English Separate Catholic school system. By declaring in writing that you want your portion directed to the English Separate School Board, you have a say in protecting and maintaining the Catholic education system in Ontario.
When you direct your support to the Catholic system, you are sending the government a powerful message. It is a way to communicate to the government that:
- you support Catholic schools in your community;
- you want to see Catholic schools continue to exist and flourish;
- you want equitable resources for your Catholic schools.
Under the provincial funding formula, the size of a school board’s assessment base no longer determines the amount of the board’s funding, but it still serves several important functions:
• It is a public record of the degree of support for Catholic education.
• It is used to determine the number of trustees elected to each board to represent the interests of all Catholic ratepayers, not just parents currently accessing the system.
• It supports the board’s population projections, which affects funding new pupil places.
• Should authority to tax be returned to local Catholic school boards, a complete up to date assessment base will be critical.
How to find out if you are registered correctly on the Municipal tax rolls
- Check your Property Assessment Notice that comes every year. Under School Support Designation make sure it states English Separate (This is the term for English Catholic School Supporter).
- Call the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Admissions Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24500 and they will check the Municipal Rolls database for you.
Direction of School Support
Each residential unit in the municipality is assigned a unique number. That number automatically designates the occupant as a supporter of the English Public school system until the occupant requests to have it changed. When the parent/guardian chooses to direct their support to the English Separate school system, they opt out of the right of access to the English Public system. Since each household is only allowed to direct tax support to one system, access and use is restricted to only one system. At the elementary level, all children must attend the school system for which the school support is directed.
What is a Separate School Lease Agreement?
A Separate School Lease Agreement is an additional document required by the government, which allows people, jointly responsible for the payment of property taxes, either directly through ownership or indirectly through the payment of rent, one of whom is non-Catholic, to direct school support to the Catholic system. It is non-transferable and does not affect any legalities concerning the property. The Catholic joint owner or tenant simply rents the right to direct school support from the Non-Catholic and permits a child of a Catholic and a non-Catholic living in the same household to attend a Catholic elementary school.
You don’t have to wait until your child reaches school age to become a separate school supporter.
By directing your support to the Catholic school system now, as a separate school supporter you assist in preserving the system and providing educational programs based on Christ centered learning, so that when your child is ready for school, your neighbourhood school will be providing a faith based learning environment for you. You will also be listed as a separate school supporter/elector to vote for the trustees who represent your wishes at the management level.
Even if you have no children or your children have completed their education, we need your support.
Those Catholic ratepayers who don’t use the Catholic system are also important to the continuation of our Catholic education system. School support direction should be made even if you don’t have children currently attending school. It is an investment in our future and all Catholic ratepayers are partners with Catholic educators in this investment. Your school support also entitles you to vote for Catholic school trustees in municipal elections.
Have you moved?
Even if you have been an English Separate Supporter in the past, the designation DOES NOT follow you when you relocate. Every time you move, it is essential that you re-declare yourself as a Catholic school supporter.
For more information about school support, contact our Admissions Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24500.