Sample School Board Policy from Ontario's Ministry of Education

This is a sample school board policy from Ontario's Ministry of Education.

Equity and Inclusive Education in Ontario Schools: Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation, 2009

Appendix 1

Sample Policies

1. Sample Policy for Public District School Boards

Policy No. ___

Title: Equity and Inclusive Education Policy

Date issued: June 2009

Review date: June 2012

A. Policy Statement5

The public school board is committed to excellence in education and equitable

educational outcomes for all students. The board and its staff are committed to the

elimination of discrimination as outlined in Ontario’s equity and inclusive education

strategy and in PPM No. 119, “Developing and Implementing Equity and Inclusive

Education Policies in Ontario Schools” (June 24, 2009).

The public school board confirms and upholds the principles enshrined in the

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution Act, 1982, and the

Ontario Human Rights Code.

The board believes that equity of opportunity and equity of access to all programs,

services, and resources are critical to the well-being of those who serve our school

system and to the achievement of successful outcomes by all those whom we serve.

The board is committed to fairness, equity, and inclusive education as essential

principles of our school system, and all our policies, programs, operations, and

practices will reflect these values. The board will not allow discrimination or any

expression thereof by members of the school community.

B. Areas of Focus

The board regards the following eight areas of focus as important in an equitable

and inclusive education environment.

1. Board policies, programs, guidelines, and practices

The board is committed to serving students in diverse communities by

incorporating the principles of equity and inclusive education into all

aspects of its operations, structures, policies, programs, procedures,

guidelines, and practices.

2. Shared and committed leadership

The board is committed to providing informed leadership to improve

student achievement and to close achievement gaps for students by

identifying, addressing, and removing all forms of discrimination.

3. School–community relationships

The board is committed to establishing and maintaining partnerships

with diverse communities so that the perspectives and experiences of

all students are recognized and their needs are met.

4. Inclusive curriculum and assessment practices

The board is committed to implementing an inclusive curriculum and

to reviewing resources, instruction, and assessment and evaluation

practices in order to identify and address discriminatory biases so that

each student may maximize his or her learning potential.

5. Religious accommodation

The board acknowledges each individual’s right to follow or not follow

religious beliefs and practices free from discriminatory or harassing

behaviour and is committed to taking all reasonable steps to provide

religious accommodation to students and staff.

6. School climate and the prevention of discrimination and harassment

The board is committed to the principle that every person within the

school community is entitled to a respectful, positive school climate and

learning environment, free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.

7. Professional learning

The board is committed to providing the school community, including

students, with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes,

and behaviours needed to

8. Accountability and transparency

The board is committed to assessing and monitoring its progress in

implementing an equity and inclusive education policy; to embedding

the principles into all other board policies, programs, guidelines, and

practices; and to communicating these results to the community.

C. Procedures and Implementation Plans

The Director of Education is authorized to issue such procedures as may be

necessary to support the implementation of this policy.

II. Alternative Policy Statement for Catholic District School Boards

A. Policy Statement

The Catholic school board recognizes that all people are created in the image and

likeness of God, and as such deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

The board and its staff are committed to the elimination of discrimination as outlined

in Ontario’s equity and inclusive education strategy and PPM No. 119, “Developing

and Implementing Equity and Inclusive Education Policies in Ontario Schools”

(June 24, 2009). The board recognizes that its school system gives pre-eminence to

the tenets of the Catholic faith, consistent with the Constitution Act, 1867, section 93,

and the protections afforded in the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Within a context of a Catholic school system, the board is committed to promoting

the values of respect, dignity, and fairness for all. Our schools will maintain a learning

and working environment in which differences are recognized and respected.

It is the policy of the Catholic school board to provide in all its operations an

educational environment that promotes and supports diversity as well as the equal

attainment of life opportunities for all students, staff, parents, and community

members. The board will not allow discrimination or any expression thereof by

any members of the school community.