Toronto School Board Drops Lottery for Specialized Programs, Will Switch to Merit-Based Admissions

Toronto School Board Drops Lottery for Specialized Programs, Will Switch to Merit-Based Admissions
A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Jan. 30, 2018. The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn
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The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) says it’s revising its admission process for its specialized programs after “direction” from a supervisor appointed by the Minister of Education.

The school board announced in 2022 it was moving from a merit-based admission system to a lottery system for specialized programs that focus on subjects like math, science, the arts, and leadership. It said the lottery would be more equitable and give students who may not have the means to pay for lessons or tutoring the opportunity to attend a special school program.