Equity

Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and Toronto District School Board (TDSB) have partnered to develop Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: A Resource for Educators, a resource to empower educators to take action against anti-Asian racism. 

Read more.

Watch the launch of the resource from February 9, 2021.

 

This resource encourages educators and students to explore and deepen their understanding of global and local acts and its connections to their lived experiences. It was also developed to support educators as they engage in lessons and conversations regarding the insurrection that took place on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. For more information, please read the statement from Chair of the Board Alexander Brown.

Each and every student is capable of success. Our focus is ensuring that all students can succeed by having access – the same access – to opportunities, learning, resources and tools; with the goal of improving the outcomes of the most marginalized students. That’s equity.

To do this, the TDSB has made a bold commitment to equity, human rights, anti-racism and anti-oppression. This sets the foundation to support those who have been traditionally and currently underserved, and will raise the bar for all students.

Raising the bar for everyone

We all agree that students deserve and have a right to learn in a fair, equitable environment, and we know from our student data that hasn’t been the case. We know when all students, regardless of their background, are engaged and in an inclusive, equitable environment, everyone is inspired to do their best to succeed—creating a stronger school community.

How does equity improve the school community?

Equity will help close the persistent achievement and well-being gaps our student data has continually identified as being strongly connected to demographic factors such as family income, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability, among others.

Equity will help address patterns of academic streaming by setting high expectations and increasing access to programming and support.

Equity will help us create a more equitable school system where the achievement and well-being of every student is fostered through rich, culturally-authentic learning experiences in diverse, accepting environments where all are included, every voice is heard, and every experience is honoured.

Knowing who our students are, their identities, abilities and lived experiences allows us as educators to create the conditions necessary for dynamic, deep learning and create environments that reflect, and are based on, the assets and gifts they bring in ways that honour them. Our goal is to do this in a partnership between students, families, community, elders and staff.

Together we will make a difference in our schools, classrooms and in the lives of our students where it matters most.

Enhancing equity at TDSB

• Professional Learning
  • Providing mandatory learning for school leadership in human rights, anti-oppression and anti-racism
  • Identifying and examining the impact of bias, power and privilege on student achievement and well-being
  • Building capacity among leaders to facilitate learning in human rights, equity and anti-oppression
  • Providing employees tools and professional resources to understand and respond effectively to various forms of discrimination
     
• Transforming Student Learning
  • Making important changes to how we support our underserved students, including Black and Indigenous students, through inclusive learning environments and increased opportunities.
  • Using Inclusive Design as the approach for all our School Improvement Planning and providing learning for all school leaders in using it to support the most marginalized students and raise the bar of excellence for all.
     
• Creating a Culture of Student and Staff Well-Being
  • Inviting students to share their voice to influence decision making related to engagement, achievement, equity, well-being and school climate.
     
• Providing Equity of Access to Learning Opportunities for All Students
  • Enhancing students’ learning opportunities by reviewing applicable policies, procedures and practices  
     
• Allocating Human and Financial Resources Strategically to Support Student Needs
  • Ensuring the Bard’s flexible funding is utilized to equitably support the needs of all students.
     
• Building Strong Relationships and Partnerships within School Communities to Support Student Learning and Well-Being
  • Improving and increasing parent access to TDSB information and resources.