The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is taking action to strengthen supports for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) students following a comprehensive review of inclusive schooling.

Inclusive schooling means ensuring each student can learn and succeed, with supports that reflect their individual needs. Between 2024 and 2026, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) reviewed how inclusive schooling is working across the NWT.

The review confirmed what families and educators have been telling us: student needs are becoming more complex, while schools have increasingly relied on short-term federal funding that is not stable or predictable. The review made 11 recommendations to improve how supports are delivered. The GNWT has accepted all 11 and is moving forward with implementation. 

 Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, families and schools will see:

• Stabilized student supports: 
• The GNWT has committed at least $30 million in new, stable funding for inclusive schooling in the 2026-2027 budget.
• Most of this funding will go directly to education bodies to support students in schools. This includes funding for support assistants, program support teachers, and therapeutic and rehabilitation services.
• Early Childhood screening: 
• The GNWT will advance early elementary screening to help educators identify developmental and learning vulnerabilities that may lead to school-based learning difficulties, including early literacy skills.
• This will allow teachers to identify students’ learning needs earlier and be more proactive in planning instruction and targeted supports.
• Clearer information and protocols for families and schools:
• Plain-language resources will help families better understand available supports.
• Clearer JK–12 transition protocols will support smoother movement through the education system.
• Improved coordination with health partners will support more accessible referral and follow up processes.

Longer-term actions will focus on strengthening rehabilitative and therapeutic supports for students and will work toward long-term system improvement, including updating funding models, staffing approaches, and policies.

Implementation will be phased over several years to ensure changes are practical, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of NWT schools. To learn more about the actions and timelines, visit: https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/sites/ece/files/resources/backgrounder_inclusive_schooling_actions_1.pdf

Quote

“Inclusive schooling is about making sure each student receives the support they need to learn and succeed. By accepting all 11 recommendations in the Inclusive Schooling Review, we are stabilizing supports today, giving families clearer information, and making the longer-term changes needed to strengthen the education system for all NWT students. This foundational change, paired immediate investment of over $30 million will make a real difference for students, families, and educators across the Northwest Territories.”

- The Honourable Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

Quick facts

• In 2016, the Northwest Territories renewed the Ministerial Directive on Inclusive Schooling with a focus on providing quality, inclusive education for students that recognizes the diversity of learners across the territory. Since then, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and ensuring accountability for inclusive schooling across the territory.
• In 2020, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada reported that the GNWT’s monitoring did not provide sufficient information to determine whether students with individualized learning plans were receiving the supports they required.
• In response, the GNWT conducted a comprehensive review using a two-phased approach. Phase 1 was conducted in 2024 and consisted of a jurisdictional scan and document review, while Phase 2 was completed in 2025 and involved seeking input from parents and guardians and from across the education system, including support assistants, regional inclusive schooling coordinators, classroom and program support teachers, principals, superintendents, and other education staff.
• The review resulted in 11 recommendations, and the GNWT agrees with all of them.
• The GNWT committed an additional $30 million in funding to stabilize inclusive schooling supports in 2026-27. This funding will go primarily to education bodies. The immediate benefit for children is continuity of support services with fewer staff changes, fewer gaps in services, and more predictable supports. This funding stabilizes existing services while longer‑term funding reform work is underway.

Related links

• Inclusive Schooling Review Report
• GNWT Response to the Inclusive Schooling Review Report
• About Inclusive Schooling in the NWT
• Backgrounder: Inclusive Schooling Next Steps

For media requests, please contact:
Agata Gutkowska
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories 
agata_gutkowska@gov.nt.ca