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Count Us In! Student Census

Grand Erie Delves into Student Census Data to Address Factors Affecting School Experiences

Grand Erie District School Board has completed important next steps in the analysis of data collected from its first student census.

“The census initiative follows Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan, the province’s strategy for identifying and eliminating discriminatory practices, barriers, and biases from schools and classrooms, and is a crucial step to ensuring equity and addressing the factors affecting it,” said Christine Bibby, Grand Erie’s Safe and Inclusive Schools Lead, who spearheaded the initiative along with the Safe and Inclusive Schools team. “Our goal is to create learning environments that allow every student to reach their full potential, and with this information, we’re in a better position to achieve that.”

The findings from the census are being used to remove barriers to inclusion, inform programming, and better understand the factors that contribute to students’ overall experiences of school. The recently completed phase of analysis examined students’ perceptions of their schooling, and how various demographic factors intersect to affect those experiences. Find the full report here: http://bit.ly/38Zpo1f.

“Some of the key findings from the census reveal that socio-economic status is a factor related to students’ experiences of school, and our LGBTQ+ students appear to be having challenges related to their school experiences,” said Greg Rousell, Grand Erie’s System Research Lead, who presented the information to Trustees on Monday at the Regular Board Meeting. “When data reveals something troublesome, we have an ethical and a moral obligation to respond to it.”

Grand Erie’s response includes plans for consultations with community agencies and advocacy groups to address some of the systemic barriers to inclusion, and to share key findings with school principals and administrative staff to inform School Achievement Plans moving forward.

Grand Erie’s student census was completed last March. The voluntary and confidential census received feedback from 83 per cent of Grand Erie students in Grades 4-12. The census asked students about their race, culture, and religion. Students in Grades 9-12 were also asked about their sexual orientation and gender identity. Results from the student census were shared with Trustees at the September 9, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting. Find those results here: https://bit.ly/37UebgX.

Grand Erie’s Multi-Year Plan, Success for Every Student, includes a commitment to Equity, promoting practices that help students and families feel safe, welcomed and included.

 

February 2021: Student Census Report Links to Grand Erie Achievements and Suspensions Data

In 2017, the Ministry of Education established the Education Equity Action Plan, in response to the persistent underachievement of marginalized student subgroups since the implementation of the Equity and Inclusive Education in Ontario Schools (2009). As part of Ontario’s Equity Action Plan, the Ministry provided funding to support the collection of identity-based student demographic data.

In March of 2019, Grand Erie staff created a student census that saw 84 per cent of students in Grades 4-12 voluntarily participate. In the fall of 2019, school administrators received demographic reports for each of their schools, along with student satisfaction reports. The plan to roll out additional reports on measuring success was put on hold during job action and the closure of schools due to COVID-19.

On February 22, Trustees were provided with a report linking the student census data with the board’s achievement and suspension data. The results indicate certain subgroups of students have consistently lower or higher achievement levels than the Grand Erie average. Specifically, the data shows that students who identify as Black and Indigenous had lower achievement levels, as did students from lower socioeconomic situations and students from the LGBTQ+ community. The data also shows that Grand Erie students who identified as South Asian or Southeast Asian had higher achievement levels, as did students from higher socioeconomic situations. Additionally, the suspension data indicates that Black, Latino, Indigenous, Jewish, LGBTQ+ and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be suspended from school. To read the full report, see pages 50-67 here: https://bit.ly/3btaiUf.

The report outlines five steps for Grand Erie to take moving forward to address these findings:

  • Equity and inclusion must be a commitment from the highest level of the Board. To enact change, Grand Erie needs to see this work as critical and foundational to the overall success and well-being of all students.
  • Development of a Grand Erie Equity and Inclusion Action Plan, with measurable outcomes and lines of responsibility. This plan must include strategies for addressing identified gaps as well as a system of accountability to ensure the Board is on the right track to make changes now, and into the future.
  • Ongoing professional development for Grand Erie leaders to understand how disproportionality is perpetuated through a critical examination of systems (i.e., systemic racism, heteronormativity) and staff (i.e., awareness of power, privilege and bias).
  • Educate staff, particularly those working directly with students, to be more aware of a student’s social location (i.e., the impact of intersectionality) and their roles as allies and change agents. Grand Erie must also ensure staff, particularly teachers, have the resources they need to support change.
  • Consideration of equity as it relates to Grand Erie employees. Through a staff census, the Board will have data about the identities of staff as well as information on their sense of well-being and belonging in the workplace. This data will help inform equity strategies moving forward that focus on staff.

Grand Erie’s student census was completed from March 19-28, 2019. Results from the student census were shared with Trustees at the September 9, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting.

This report supports the Equity indicator of Grand Erie’s Multi-Year Plan, Success for Every Student, through the following statement: “We will promote practices that help students, families and staff feel safe, welcomed and included.”

For questions about the student census, contact Greg Rousell, System Research Leader at Grand Erie at: greg.rousell@granderie.ca or 519-756-6301, ext. 281042.

 

September 2019: Results from Grand Erie's First Student Census Will Inform the Board's Next Steps for Planning and Supports for Students

The results are in from Grand Erie District School Board’s first student census, a survey of students in Grades 4-12 conducted last spring. The data collected will be used to better understand student needs, remove barriers to inclusion, and effectively plan programming and supports for all students.

“The census findings provide a more accurate picture of our student populations and school communities, an understanding which is crucial to ensuring equity and addressing systemic barriers,” said Wayne Baker, Superintendent of Education responsible for Grand Erie’s Safe and Inclusive Schools team, which led this initiative. “To help students succeed, we need to understand who they are.”

The confidential and voluntary student census was completed in class, and asked students about themselves and their experiences both inside and outside of school. Grand Erie’s participation rate was 83 per cent. Responses are secured in a database accessed only by authorized research staff.

“It was extremely important that the census capture a multitude of student voices,” said Baker. “What we now know is that we have diversity in all areas of our Board, and this information will help us close the gaps for marginalized students.”

The census initiative follows Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan, the province’s strategy for identifying and eliminating discriminatory practices, barriers, and biases from schools and classrooms, and is a critical step to ensuring equity and addressing the factors affecting it. The census was supported by Grand Erie’s Board of Trustees, Senior Administration, and a host of community groups and organizations.

Key findings from the census report include:

  • 12 per cent of respondents identified as Indigenous (Six Nations, First Nations, Metis, or Inuit)
  • A majority of Grand Erie students identified as white (81 per cent), with more racial diversity in the City of Brantford where 29 per cent of respondents identified as non-white, followed by Haldimand County (21 per cent), and the Counties of Brant and Norfolk (both 13 per cent)
  • 31 per cent of respondents indicated some form of disability (including mental health, learning, or medical-related)
  • Students in Grades 9-12 were asked about sexual orientation. From those students, 16 per cent identified as other than heterosexual (gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual or pansexual)
  • Overall, respondents had a positive view of school, with 74 per cent indicating they feel accepted by adults at school, and 73 per cent indicating they feel their teachers care about them.
  • For the full report on the student census and its findings, click here.
  • For the public data set from the student census, click here.

For questions about the student census, contact Greg Rousell, System Research Leader at Grand Erie at: greg.rousell@granderie.ca or 519-756-6301, ext. 281042.

 

March 2019: Count Us In!, Grand Erie’s First Student Census

The goal of Grand Erie’s Multi-Year Plan is Success for Every Student. This can only be achieved if the Board truly understands the needs of its students and their families.

To gather this information, Grand Erie will launch its first-ever student census, Count Us In!, from March 18-29.

All Grand Erie students in Grades 4-12 will take part in the census. This initiative is being led by the Board’s Safe and Inclusive Schools Team and has the support of Trustees, Senior Management and a host of community groups and organizations. It is also part of a larger initiative by the Ministry of Education and Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan.

The census findings will help Grand Erie better understand student populations and school communities; identify and eliminate barriers to student success, inclusion and well-being; and establish effective programs to increase student services.

The student census will be completed in class and feature questions that ask students about themselves and their experiences, both inside and outside of school. To view the student census, Student Census Grades 4-8 and Student Census Grades 9-12.

Grand Erie’s student census is confidential. All responses will be stored in a secure, confidential database that will only be accessed by authorized research staff to identify and summarize Board trends. Individual student questionnaires will not be analyzed. Grand Erie District School Board is committed to the highest levels of privacy and confidentiality in collecting information about students. We follow all privacy requirements outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The information gathered through the student census is collected under the legal authority of the Education Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 2, as amended) for educational and research purposes only.

Grand Erie believes it’s critical for the student census to reflect all of the voices that exist within the Board. The more responses received, the more reliable the data will be and the more effective Grand Erie can be in supporting all students moving forward. The data collected will be used to inform and improve programming and instruction as well as create and improve student services.

Students or parents/caregivers who decide not to participate will need to let their school know by Friday, February 22.

For questions about the student census, see the Board’s Frequently Asked Questions here or contact Greg Rousell, System Research Leader at Grand Erie at: greg.rousell@granderie.ca or 519-756-6301, ext. 281042.