Education Minister Stephen Lecce said he is confident that parents in Ontario will allocate the regional compensation to help their children catch up at school, as the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday that the government will offer parents between $200 and $250 per child to help offset the cost of catching up at school after two years of interrupted learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents with children up to 18 years old can apply for $200, while parents with children who have special educational needs, up to 21 years old, can apply for $250. Lecce also told CP24 on Friday that he believes parents know best how to use the money to enhance their children's learning. He added: "I trust that parents will spend the money on their families more than a politician, bureaucrat, or union leader would. They will use these dollars wisely, as they will invest in their children for textbooks, technology, and after-school programming." Also, parents can apply online for the payments, and upon applying, Lecce said the money will be deposited directly into their accounts within two to three weeks. Applications for compensation funds will remain open until March 31, 2023. As for the payments, they are part of a $365 million Back to School plan, which the government first announced during a speech in August, and this is the fourth time the government has issued payments to parents over the past two years to alleviate pressures caused by the pandemic. Last year, parents received $400 per child up to grade 12, while parents with children with special needs under 21 years old received $500. In addition to compensation payments, Lecce said the government is also working on increasing support in classrooms.