We received this communication from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) this week:
“As you know, earlier this year, the OCDSB undertook a survey of identity based data. All parents of students in JK-6 and students in grades 7-12 were invited to complete the survey. We are pleased to share that 74,975 surveys were sent out and 34,888 individuals responded for an overall response rate of 46.5%. On June 22, 2020 we will be presenting the survey results to the Board of Trustees. This first report, Identity Matters! 2019-2020 OCDSB Student Survey Results is the first of a series of reports to be generated from this data. It will describe the diversity of the OCDSB student population and is the foundation for future reports that will look at trends and patterns in the data.”
The OCDSB will hold a school board meeting on Monday, June 22nd from 7:30pm EST – 10:30pm EST. The link to the live stream will be shared on our social media pages or is available at the above link. On the agenda for this meeting is the first presentation of the identity-based data. We encourage all parents and caregivers of OCDSB students to watch this school board meeting.
Also included in the email we received:
“Throughout this project, our learning with community partners has been invaluable. We would like to take the opportunity to share the initial data report with you in an upcoming meeting. The meeting will provide a forum for us to discuss the survey data; discuss next steps in identifying trends and patterns; and solicit your input on the draft
Indigenous, Human Rights and Equity Roadmap – a plan with specific goals and actions to address systemic barriers for students and staff and to hold the District accountable for progress.”
Parents for Diversity will be attending these community partner meetings with OCDSB on Tuesday, June 23rd from 6:30 – 8:30pm EST and Thursday, June 25th 9:00am – 11:00am EST. Indigenous community partners will meet on Thursday, June 25th 2:00pm-4:00pm EST. If after the board meeting on Monday, June 22nd you have specific questions or concerns that you would like us to bring forward ash the community partner meetings, please feel free to reach out to us.
A number of community orgs were involved and rallied around getting this identity based data collection done, and we want to be a part of the process, so make sure you tune in to hear the first report and then attend the community partners meeting. We asked for this data, we are ready to hear the data, and we all need to show up and listen and respond. Be a part of the process, be sure your voice is heard.
Infographic from OCDSB:
