Can one parent change my child's school without my agreement in Ontario?

If you and your co-parent share joint decision-making responsibility, neither parent can unilaterally change the child's school without the other's agreement. Education is one of the core decisions covered by joint decision-making. If one parent makes that change without consent, the other parent can bring a motion to court to have the child returned to the original school and to address the breach.

If one parent has sole decision-making responsibility, they can make that decision without the other's agreement, though the other parent's right to be informed typically still applies.

Disputes about schooling — which school, public vs. private, French immersion, special education placements — are among the most common decision-making conflicts in Ontario family law. If you cannot agree and have joint decision-making, the tie-breaking mechanism is a court application. Some parents include a dispute resolution clause in their separation agreement (such as mediation first) to avoid heading to court each time.

If this is an urgent situation — for example, a parent has already withdrawn and enrolled the child elsewhere — you can file an urgent motion in family court.