TDSB teachers hold walk-in protest over class sizes, with a strike vote set for November 9
Teachers at more than 300 Toronto District School Board schools held a walk-in protest on November 4, 2026, over class sizes and funding. A strike vote for more than 10,000 elementary teachers runs November 9 to 18.
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Teachers at more than 300 Toronto District School Board schools held a walk-in protest at the start of the school day on November 4, 2026, to call attention to rising class sizes and what organizers described as inadequate education funding, TorontoToday reported. The Toronto Star reported on a rally at Market Lane Jr. and Sr. Public School in the east end, where parents and educators gathered as part of the same day of action.
The protest was organized by the Toronto Education Advocacy Network (TEAN) and the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT), the union that represents more than 10,000 elementary teachers in the TDSB.
What teachers are saying
ETT president Nigel Barriffe named two issues to TorontoToday: class sizes and resources for students with special needs. Some TDSB kindergarten classes have reached 30 students, he said, above the provincial legal limit of 29.
TDSB elementary teachers have been working under an expired contract since August 31, 2026. A strike vote for ETT members is scheduled to run November 9 to 18, TorontoToday reported. A strike vote authorizes union leadership to call a strike but does not mean one has been called.
The funding picture
Ontario's Ministry of Education told TorontoToday it is providing $30.6 billion in core education funding for 2026 to 2027. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calculated in a separate analysis that Ontario schools have been underfunded by $6.5 billion since 2018, TorontoToday also reported.
What parents can do
Parents who want to follow the contract dispute can track the ETT strike vote, which runs November 9 to 18. If ETT members approve strike action and union leadership calls a strike, schools in the TDSB could close with little notice. Parents can raise class size and special needs concerns at their own school's council meetings. The next meeting of the Toronto District School Board is listed on the board's website at tdsb.on.ca.
Questions this story answers
What happened at Toronto schools on November 4, 2026?
Teachers at more than 300 Toronto District School Board schools held a walk-in protest at the start of the school day on November 4, 2026, to draw attention to rising class sizes and what organizers called inadequate education funding, TorontoToday reported. The Toronto Star reported on a rally at Market Lane Jr. and Sr. Public School, where parents and educators gathered as part of the same day of action.
Who organized the TDSB teacher protest?
The protest was organized by the Toronto Education Advocacy Network (TEAN) and the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT), according to TorontoToday. ETT is the union that represents more than 10,000 elementary teachers in the TDSB.
What issues are TDSB teachers raising?
ETT president Nigel Barriffe named two issues: class sizes, with some TDSB kindergarten classes at 30 students despite a provincial limit of 29; and resources for students with special needs, TorontoToday reported.
Is a teachers' strike possible at Toronto schools?
A strike vote for ETT members is scheduled for November 9 to 18, 2026, TorontoToday reported. TDSB elementary teachers have been working under an expired contract since August 31, 2026. A strike vote authorizes a union to call a strike but does not mean one has been called.
How much funding do Ontario schools receive?
Ontario's Ministry of Education said it is providing $30.6 billion in core education funding for 2026 to 2027, TorontoToday reported. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calculated in a separate analysis that Ontario schools have been underfunded by $6.5 billion since 2018, TorontoToday also reported.
What are the class size limits for Ontario kindergarten?
Ontario's provincial law limits kindergarten classes to 29 students. TorontoToday reported that some TDSB kindergarten classes have reached 30 students, which is above that provincial limit. ETT president Nigel Barriffe named class sizes as one of the two central issues driving the November 4 protest.
When did the TDSB teachers' contract expire?
TDSB elementary teachers have been working under an expired contract since August 31, 2026, TorontoToday reported. The expired contract is the reason ETT is now holding a strike vote, scheduled for November 9 to 18, 2026, to give the union the authority to call a strike if talks with the board do not result in a new agreement.
What can TDSB parents do?
Parents can raise class size and special needs concerns at their school's council meetings. The ETT strike vote runs November 9 to 18, 2026. If ETT members approve strike action and union leadership calls a strike, schools in the TDSB could close. Parents can follow TorontoToday and ETT for updates.
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