Toronto District School Board
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Addressing School Safety

The highest priority of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is the safety, security and well-being of the students and staff in schools and workplaces. The Board supports this priority through policies and procedures, the development and nurturing of relationships with local community organizations and agencies, a commitment to ongoing learning in the areas of school and community safety, and through the development and sharing of best practices.

It is important to note that schools are a reflection of the larger community within which they exist. As such, when communities are challenged by issues of violence, schools will also be challenged. Creating safer schools goes beyond the work of a single school board – it is the collective responsibility of all levels of government, communities and all Greater Toronto Area school boards. Many elements go into the creation of caring and safe schools and workplaces. The most critical component is working through relationships with all internal and external stakeholders to build positive school climates where students and staff feel valued, heard and cared for irrespective of identity or social standing.

The updated Collaborative Approach to School and Community Safety Action Plan combines a number of proactive, research based approaches and interventions aimed at making TDSB schools and sites as safe as possible. Among the highlights of this plan are:

  • Allocating additional staff to schools in the areas of School Based Safety Monitors, Child and Youth Workers, Social Workers, Caring and Safe School Advisors, and Teachers
  • Enhanced mandatory staff training in the areas of emergency preparedness and threats to school safety
  • Expansion of community driven tutoring, mentoring and employment programs for youth outside of regular school hours
  • Ongoing working relationships with the Toronto Police Service Youth Safety Unit and Neighbourhood Community Officers Unit
  • Partnership with the City of Toronto though the SafeTO initiative
  • The installation of updated security systems, including cameras and vape detectors at TDSB schools.

All of this work is framed by the Board’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Human Rights, Equity, Anti- Racism and Anti-Oppression and the elimination of streaming. In TDSB, the work of creating positive school climates and making schools and workplaces safe, welcoming and inclusive is a part of everyone’s role regardless of position, title or affiliation.

At the Toronto District School Board, we are taking additional steps to address school safety including:

  • The TDSB continues to benefit from the expertise and leadership of the Toronto Police Service (TPS). We regularly collaborate with TPS to enhance school and community safety. Some examples include: 
    • A focus on strengthening relationships between schools and local police divisions.
    • Continue to work with Neighbourhood Community Officers, as well as the TPS Youth Safety Unit, to support community and school safety. 
    • TPS trains thousands of TDSB staff in emergency preparedness related to school and community safety, ensuring effective and efficient support at no cost to the Board. 
    • TPS provides TDSB staff with access to subsidized Threat Assessment Professional Certification Training and Active Threat Training.
    • TDSB works closely with TPS on any matters requiring police involvement to maintain a safe and secure learning environment.
  • Participating in the Strengthening School Community Safety and Well-being Symposium (September 2024 and 2025).
    • Including representatives from TDSB, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, TPS, the City of Toronto, as well as staff from the Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Community Housing Corporation, this successful event helped to foster interaction among school leaders and key community partners, promote networking and partnerships, and enhance school administrators’ understanding of community violence trends.
  • Investing in the upgrading of camera systems, as part of the larger security system infrastructure at schools and sites across the TDSB and providing school staff with training to facilitate effective use of the new equipment.
  • The Expert Reference Panel on School Safety and Well-Being, with representation from across different sectors, put forward recommendations that affirm the commitment of TDSB and community partners to address school and community safety and student well-being. Through the coordinated efforts of the Caring and Safe Schools team, and the SafeTO Toronto Office to Prevent Violence, staff continue to mobilize actions and finalize work plans in service of the Expert Reference Panel recommendations.
  • Allocating additional resources (such as School-Based Safety Monitors, social workers, children and youth counsellors/workers) to schools where concerns have been raised.
  • In the event that student action results in a risk to safety or a violation under the Education Act, students can be and are suspended or expelled.
  • Emergency Preparedness training sessions have been made mandatory for school-based staff and will continue to be offered in the months ahead.
  • Ongoing staff training in Restorative Practices, including conflict resolution and conflict prevention.
  • Creating a Safe Schools Audit Team to work with schools to ensure Caring and Safe Schools policies, practices and procedures are being followed appropriately and working with school teams to provide feedback and address concerns.
  • Ensuring every secondary school has a student engagement/safety team so that students are informing local school-based safety initiatives.
  • Expanding a new initiative that works with community groups during and outside of regular school hours to offer a variety of programs focused on supporting youth.
  • Continuing to collaborate with the City on many aspects of the implementation of SafeTO. 

In addition to the caring adults that are present in all 579 TDSB schools, the board has many specially trained staff that help support safe schools and student well-being including:

  • School-Based Safety Monitors in every Middle and Secondary school
  • Child and Youth Counsellors
  • Child and Youth Workers
  • Caring and Safe Schools Centrally Assigned Principals that oversee and support schools in school safety and disciplinary issues
  • Caring and Safe Schools Advisors that support schools in school safety and disciplinary issues
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Court Liaison Workers

TDSB continues to work closely with established community agencies to deliver programming that supports students in ways that are community driven and informed. We are also focussed on continuing to expand partnerships with culturally responsive community organizations and faith-based groups in support of school and community safety.

All TDSB schools have a Safe Entry Plan for the building that take into consideration the following:

  • Times that the secure front door access system will be active (elementary)
  • Doors that will be unlocked for access to the school when the secure front door access system is not in use (elementary)
  • Times that doors will be locked and unlocked (secondary)
  • Childcare/Tenant access to the school
  • After hour access (e.g. Continuing Education classes, permit usage, etc.)

Secure access systems (elementary) better prevent unauthorised individuals from gaining access to the school. Each elementary school has either a video intercom or an audio intercom (depending on line of sight to the main office) that is used during the learning day.

Students can be and are suspended/expelled from school when they engage in behaviour/activity which warrants this level of discipline. Under the Education Act, students MUST be suspended (and considered for expulsion) for:

  • Possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm
  • Using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person
  • Committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner
  • Committing sexual assault
  • Trafficking in weapons or in illegal drugs
  • Committing robbery
  • Giving alcohol or cannabis to a minor
  • Bullying (if the student has previously been suspended for engaging in bullying, and the student’s continuing presence in the school creates an unacceptable risk to the safety of another person). 

In addition, TDSB also requires suspension (and possible expulsion) for the following:

  • Possession of an explosive substance
  • Sexual harassment
  • Racial harassment
  • Hate Motivated Occurrences
  • Distribution of hate material
  • An act considered by the principal to be a serious breach ofF the Board’s or school’s code of conduct
  • Trafficking in cannabis
  • Extortion

Students may also be suspended for other reasons outlined in the Education Act. However, this is at the discretion of Principals. For more information about suspensions and expulsions in the TDSB, view Caring and Safe Schools Annual Reports.

  • TDSB Student Safety Line
  • Emergency: Call 9-1-1
  • Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 for counselling support
  • Toronto Crime Stoppers: Call 416-222-TIPS to report a crime