September 18th, 2025

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is committed to ensuring that every student has increased access to high-quality learning opportunities. As part of this commitment, we are making an important change to how placements for French Immersion (FI) are determined, beginning with the upcoming application cycle (January 2026).

Changes to Sibling Priority

Starting in the application cycle for the 2026-27 school year, sibling priority will no longer be part of the placement process. After careful consideration, this data-driven decision was based on feedback from families and schools, with a strong focus on supporting increased access for students.

Why This Change Is Being Made

We understand that this may raise questions for parents, families and caregivers. We want to share why the change is happening and what it means for students.

Commitment to Increased Access and Fairness

We want every student to have an equal opportunity to access French Immersion.

  • Previously, siblings of students already in the French Immersion program were given priority during the registration process. This reduced opportunities for first-time applicants and in some WRDSB schools, more than half of the available spaces for Grade 2 French Immersion were secured through sibling priority placement. The updated eligibility criteria levels the playing field, making the process more fair and transparent for all.
  • The new criteria means that every home school/designated school applicant will have greater access through a transparent lottery process.

Ensuring Access for Home School and Designated School Students

Space in our French Immersion programs is limited. To make sure students can access programs in their own community, priority will be given to those who live within a school’s boundary or who are already attending the school on an approved out-of-boundary placement.

This change ensures that local students have an opportunity to access programming in their community school.

Greater Access to High-Quality French Programs

All students in the WRDSB have access to a sustainable, high-quality French as a Second Language programs, whether core French, extended French or French Immersion. Each program serves as a bridge between languages and cultures, helping students build confidence and use French in their daily lives.

Even if a child is not in French Immersion, they will receive excellent French instruction and meaningful opportunities to develop their French language skills.

Learn more about French Programs in the WRDSB.

We understand that this change may be disappointing for some parents, families and caregivers who hope to have siblings in French Immersion. Siblings may still be placed in the French Immersion program at the same school, but this is no longer guaranteed. If a student is not placed in the French Immersion program at the same school as their sibling, families will still have the option to have them attend the core French program at the same school as their sibling.

The WRDSB remains committed to supporting all students, parents, families and caregivers. We appreciate their understanding and continued engagement as we work to serve all students fairly.