As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and lives return to relative normal, many parents find their children facing an uphill battle to catch up on their learning this school year. In response, the Ontario government has announced the “Catch Up Payments” program that provides parents with a one-time payment to help pay for student learning supports. Here’s what you need to know about the program and how to apply.
About the Program
The Catch Up Payments program provides a one-time financial support for the 2022-2023 school year to help pay for tutoring services, supplies, and equipment to help fill gaps created amid schooling challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. For each eligible applicant, each K-12 student will receive a one-time, $200 payment, while student with special education needs will receive $250. The current deadline to apply is March 31, 2023.
Eligible parents and guardians can apply at this web page by the deadline. Be aware that you need to create a My Ontario profile if you don’t already have one, and that you must submit one application per student. Once the application is processed, the payment will be issued via the payment method which you specified.
Making the Most of this Payment
There is no doubt that student learning has been impeded significantly during the pandemic, as evident by a low passing percentage in the 2021-2022 EQAO results. Teachers are doing their best to help students catch up, however some students may still need additional support outside of school. Tutoring tends to be the most effective option, especially when taught in a one-to-one basis such as TeachRequest’s tutoring services. Our tutors are all Ontario Certified Teachers who are knowledgeable and passionate about helping students learn. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information – we are here to help your children succeed and prevail in this trying time.
