Parents within Ottawa's alternative school system are facing a difficult dilemma following a sudden announcement from the public school board. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) has confirmed there will be no new junior kindergarten registrations or student transfers into its alternative schools for the upcoming school year, accelerating a planned phase-out of the program.
A Sudden Announcement Before the Holidays
The decision was communicated to families on December 17, 2025, just days before the Christmas break and in the midst of the kindergarten registration period. This move effectively begins the wind-down of the alternative program earlier than some parents anticipated, despite trustees approving its gradual phase-out last spring.
The phase-out is slated to begin in September 2026 and is expected to take approximately a decade, assuming current students remain through Grade 8. The OCDSB operates five alternative schools: Lady Evelyn, Riverview, Churchill, Regina Street, and Summit (for grades 7 and 8). These schools are known for a student-centred learning philosophy, mixed-age classrooms, and a strong emphasis on co-operation.
Families Forced to Make Impossible Choices
For many parents, the immediate consequence is a stark choice: split their children between different schools or abandon the alternative system entirely. Amanda Case, co-chair of the parent council at Churchill Alternative School, highlighted the timing and frustration. "Parents are registering their kids for kindergarten right now. They found this out three days before the Christmas holiday," said Case, who has two of her four children at Churchill.
The situation creates logistical and philosophical hardships. Amy Cada, whose older daughter attends Churchill Alternative School, considers it her neighbourhood school, located a mere 10-minute walk away. However, her three-year-old daughter will now be unable to join her sibling there next September.
"We're fortunate. We live in a great neighbourhood. But our neighbourhood school is not accepting new students," Cada explained. "In the grand scheme of things, I understand there's a lot worse things happening, but I can't imagine having to go to two schools for drop-off and pickup." Her younger child would now have to attend either Hilson Avenue or Broadview Public School, both requiring a drive.
Uncertain Future and Consolidation on the Horizon
In a message to parents, OCDSB Director of Education Stacey Kay confirmed that while no school consolidations are planned for the 2026-27 school year, there may be a move to fewer alternative school sites over time. This leaves families and school communities with significant uncertainty about the future.
The announcement came as a particular blow to some parents who had hoped for a reprieve after the board's controversial Elementary Program Review (EPR) was cancelled in the fall of 2025. Provincial supervisor Bob Plamondon had concluded the EPR's boundary changes would cause chaos. However, the cancellation of that review did not extend to the alternative program's fate.
The decision underscores the challenging landscape of public education planning in Ottawa, where demographic shifts and budgetary pressures are forcing difficult decisions that directly impact family life and educational choice.
