Student Identification Survey
At the Near North District School Board, we are committed to creating safe and positive spaces that respect and celebrate diversity for all our students. In order to do this, we must better understand the diverse identities of our students. To help us with this work, we are excited to announce that we will launch our Student Identity Survey on April 24th, 2023.
What is this survey all about?
As part of this vision, the Ministry of Education’s Equity Secretariat has approached Ontario school boards to conduct a student identity survey.
The survey findings will help the board and our schools to:
- Better understand our student populations and school communities
- Identify and respond to barriers to student success, inclusion and well-being
- Enhance the creation and distribution of programs and services
We recognize that in order to know and honour best who our students are, based on the many ways they identify themselves, we need to hear from them who they are. Community agencies and advisory groups were consulted during the initial phase of our work. Board-wide student information based on identity categories provided by the Ministry of Education and aligned with the Anti-Racism Data Standards will be collected on a voluntary basis from April 24th to May 12th, 2023. It will include subjects like race and ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity (kindergarten to grade 6 students will not answer questions related to sexual orientation).
How do I participate?
Kindergarten to Grade 6: During the three week period between April 24 and May 12, 2023, we are inviting all parents of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 to complete this system-wide survey entitled “This is Me” with their child. Parent includes a guardian or caregiver with the significant or primary responsibility for the child. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Families will receive an email outlining procedures to access the survey.
Grade 7-12: During the three week period between April 24 and May 12, 2023, students in grade 7-12 will be invited to complete the Student Survey online in class. The questionnaire will take approximately one class period to complete.
What happens with my information?
The student survey is confidential, while not anonymous. All collected responses will be stored in a secure, confidential database, and will only be accessed by authorized Research staff to identify and summarize trends among Near North students. Individual student information will not be shared.
The survey results will be used along with other types of data (e.g., demographic, school program, services and achievement to: better understand and respond to the diverse student populations and communities; identify and respond to barriers to student success; enhance the creation and distribution of programs and services. For example, it is our aim to use the data to examine areas within our board to implement culturally responsive teaching practices, which in turn improves student engagement. Furthermore we can use the information when working with our community partners to examine student support resources both in the community and at school.
The student survey is confidential, while not anonymous. All collected responses will be stored in a secure, confidential database, and will only be accessed by authorized Research staff to identify and summarize trends among Near North students. Individual student information will not be shared. Personal information is collected under the authority of the Education Act, RSO 1990, c. E-2, and in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSO 1990, c. M-56. The personal information collected will be used for educational, and research purposes only. Questions about the collection or use should be directed to your Principal of your School or Project Lead Lisa Collins, Near North District School Board, 963 Airport Road, P.O. Box 3110, North Bay, PIB 8H1, telephone (705) 472-8170 or (800) 278-4922 or thisisme@nearnorthschools.ca.
It is important that the Student Survey reflects the voices of all students -the more responses we receive, the more effective the data will be to help inform and improve programming and instruction.
Thank you in advance for your support and participation!
