As thousands of Quebec students shoulder their backpacks for the first days of the new school year, the mood is a mix of anticipation and unease. In neighborhoods like Parc-Extension, where schools already face high enrolment pressures, the province’s shifting budget measures and new classroom rules are being closely watched.
The 2025 back-to-school period runs from August 25 to September and for many administrators and parents, financial concerns remain front and center.
New rules in place
One of the most talked-about measures this year is the complete ban on cellphones at school. What began last year with phones barred in classrooms has now expanded to recess and lunch. Devices must stay in lockers all day, or risk being confiscated. Teachers and staff are also expected to set the tone by limiting their own use during school hours.
Another directive, the mandatory use of formal address (vouvoiement), will gradually come into force. Students from kindergarten through secondary five will be required to address staff as “monsieur” or “madame.” Though officially set for January, some schools, including those in Montreal’s north-end, are opting to apply the measure immediately.
At the same time, a pilot program in French is launching in about 60 classrooms province-wide. The new curriculum emphasizes Quebec culture, oral communication, grammar revisions, and updated vocabulary lists. Officials say it is part of a broader effort to strengthen language skills.
Budgets still under pressure
The financial backdrop of this rentrée is proving as complicated as the policy changes. After deep cuts announced in June and a partial reinvestment in July, school administrators say they are still short at least $85 million.
“The situation is far from resolved,” said Kathleen Legault, president of the Montreal Association of School Administrators. She warned that schools may have to reduce spending on sports, cultural outings, mentoring for new teachers, and even library acquisitions.
In Parc-Extension, where school populations are dense and resources already stretched, these constraints are especially concerning.
Staffing and space remain issues
Recruitment continues to be a major hurdle, with about one in ten teachers lacking full certification. Schools are also facing record numbers of modular classrooms as the need for space outpaces permanent construction.
Adding further strain are new government limits on how many employees each service center can hire. Administrators say this may prevent schools from adding staff even when additional students arrive midyear — a scenario not uncommon in neighborhoods like Parc-Extension, which regularly welcomes new families throughout the year.
“Everyone wants a successful year”
Despite the uncertainty, school leaders stress their determination. “We’re sticking together. It’s not easy, but everyone wants this school year to be a success,” Legault said.
Parents, too, are preparing for the unknown. “There is a lot of uncertainty, and parents are worried,” said Sylvain Martel of the Regroupement des comités de parents autonomes du Québec. “We must remain vigilant because there will be impacts.”
For Parc-Extension, where schools serve one of Montreal’s most diverse and dynamic populations, the balance between fiscal restraint and student support will be closely watched as the year unfolds.
