Cencus Pilot at Geraldton Composite High School Will Help to Better Understand the Needs of Students Says SGDSB
This month (November 2020) the Superior-Greenstone District School Board is collecting student identity information as part of a census pilot at Geraldton Composite High School which the board has said will assist in better understanding the students and their needs. This project is being funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss the survey with their child(ren). Parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 can complete the survey on behalf of their child while students in Grades 7 through 12 can complete the survey themselves while in class.
Superior-Greenstone DSB says this information will help the board:
- Get an accurate picture of the composition of the student population;
- To identify and address barriers to equity of access and student achievement; and
- To enhance decision-making about programs and supports necessary for student well-being and success.
The board’s goal is to conduct a full census of students attending all Superior-Greenstone DSB schools in 2021.
The Student Identity Survey, which takes approximately 10-15 minutes, is voluntary. The parent/guardian or student who is participating may choose to skip a question if they do not wish to provide the answer to a question. However, the board notes that, the higher the completion rate, the more accurate and reliable the information will be for decision-making.
Other school boards in Ontario, including the Toronto District School Board, Near North District School Board and Durham District School Board, also collect student identity data.
[…]The survey will include questions about student identities such as racial/ethnic background, religious belief, disability, etc. The combined data can be used to shed light on gaps that need to be addressed for student access, achievement and well-being.
This data is particularly useful to identify systemic barriers that impede students from achieving their individual potential. These types of barriers can exist in policies, procedures and practices and have an adverse effect on students or cause inequity. Research shows that students from historically disadvantaged groups or marginalized groups frequently face systemic barriers. We want to identify and address any systemic barriers because at Superior-Greenstone District School Board the success of every student matters.
Superior-Greenstone District School Board
For more information about any aspect of the census, CLICK HERE (link is to http://sgdsb.on.ca/IamCensus on the Superior-Greenstone DSB’s website).
