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Advancing Human Rights and Equity

The goal of education is student success during the learning years and later in life. This goal can only be achieved in a learning environment where students feel safe and welcome and do not experience discrimination due to personal characteristics that are protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

In promoting the inherent dignity of every student, and in alignment with the Ontario government’s recognition that “the work must be ongoing to ensure that our schools continue to provide caring, inclusive, safe, and accepting environments that support the achievement and well-being of every student”, the Durham Catholic District School Board will continue to advance equitable and inclusive education by:

Promoting a whole school approach to safe, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming schools that enable students to reach their full potential.

Capacity building for Administrators’ and Educators’ as Culturally Responsive School Leaders (September 27, 2023).
Human Rights and Equity trainings for Administrators, and development of resources for self-directed learning:
- October 25, 2023;
- November 15, 2023;
- December 13, 2023;
- January 31, 2024;
- February 28, 2024;
- March 27, 2024;
- April 24, 2024;
- May 29, 2024; and
- June 12, 2024.
Equity Invitational Learning series for students, staff, families:
- November 23, 2023;
- January 16, 2024; and
- March 21, 2024.

Deepening the understanding of the duty to accommodate in schools and the workplace.

Human Rights and Equity trainings for Central Education Center (CEC), Operations, Maintenance, Administration and Custodial (OMAC) staff on human rights concepts of the duty to accommodate, duty to inquire, procedural and substantive accommodation, and collective responsibility in accommodation.
Interactive practical sessions to deepen learning through case studies (November 17 and November 22, 2023).

Establishing a clear resolution process for Code-based concerns/complaints.

Overview of the Board’s complaints resolution process.
Trainings to increase employee understanding of Ontario Human Rights Code-protected grounds and processes for resolving Code-based concerns/complaints.
Development of tools for engaging in human rights conversations as a means of preventing human rights complaints (February 16, 2024, and March 1, 2024).

Collecting student demographic data.

Conduct a student census and disaggregate data that identifies disparities in student enrolment, suspension, expulsion, and graduation rates, wellbeing, and overall student achievement for Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQ+ students, students with special education needs and other marginalized students.
Review policies and practices, to identify and remove barriers, especially for historically marginalized groups, to promote student success (Winter 2024).

Equity Action Plan

Details regarding Training and Staff Development and Community and Staff Engagement can be found in the 2023 – 2024 Equity Action Plan at a Glance.