On May 3, 2011, the Halton Catholic District School Board passed its new Equity and Inclusive Education Policy (#II-45) . Administrative Procedure VI-54 has been developed to support and provide direction for the Halton Catholic District School
Board’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy and to support the Board’s Strategic Plan 2011–2015.

In compliance with the Ministry of Education’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, the policy provides a comprehensive framework that ensures equity and inclusive practices in all aspects of Board and school operations, including: Board policies, programs, procedures and practices, leadership, school/community relationships, religious accommodation, school climate and prevention of discrimination and harassment, professional learning, accountability and transparency; while remaining entirely consistent with Catholic teaching.

As a Catholic school system that teaches the respect, dignity and love of all people, our Board is committed to providing safe, equitable and inclusive school environments. Our schools encourage acceptance and understanding of all students through initiatives intended to provide supports to any student who may feel marginalized or isolated for any reason. Ultimately, it remains our priority to ensure safe and inclusive environments for everyone in all of our Catholic school communities.

Within the parameters established by this policy, the following action steps will be put in place to ensure that every student is free from harassment, violence, or malice in speech or in action:

• By Your SIDE (Safety, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity) Secondary School Student Focus Groups
• Student Senate and Student Trustee dialogue
• SIDE Spaces programs
• Establishing Networks with Catholic School Boards and Community Agencies to determine best practices in creating equity, inclusivity and safety in schools

Furthermore, there has been much discussion surrounding one dimension of the issue of equity and inclusion in schools: bullying related to sexual orientation. In addition to the action steps outlined above, and the supports already in place in our Catholic schools, our Board will implement groups that will specifically address the issue of bullying related to sexual orientation. The Institute for Catholic Education is currently working to develop a framework for these groups, at the request of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, and with the encouragement of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario. This initiative responds to the concerns of students who have identified a need for opportunities for student led groups to address, within a Catholic school environment, the specific issue of bullying related to sexual orientation.

For more detailed information about the Board’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy and its implementation in our schools, please refer to the documents and links provided on this page.