Besides English, the second national language of Canada is French. If you live in Ontario, you can request to have your child attend a French-Language School if you choose to do so. In the province, there are four school systems are publicly funded: the French public system, the French Catholic system, the English public system and the English Catholic system. Make sure you know which one of these 4 you are applying your child for.

Children whose parents are French-language rights holders are automatically admitted to a French-language school if they submit an application. A rights holder is a parent or guardian who lives in Ontario, is a Canadian citizen and meets specific criteria.

If your child speaks French but isn’t a French-language rights-holder, they can apply to a French Language school, but the process will be lengthier than for a French-Language Rights Holder. After submitting an application, the local school board reviews their application and decides whether to admit the child based on the school board’s policy.

The application usually includes an interview. The interview is so the admissions committee can see if your child speaks, reads, and writes French at a similar enough to other French-Language students their age, making sure a child doesn’t immediately fall behind and ensures they are receiving the proper education dictated by the school board.