Student Census Survey

The Student Census Survey is a voluntary, confidential survey with eight (Kindergarten to Grade 6) or nine (Grades 7 to 12) multiple choice identity-based questions. These include first languages, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, gender identity, disability, status in Canada, and sexual orientation (Grades 7 to 12 only).

We are asking all students to answer the online survey:

• Families of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 will be asked to complete the Student Census Survey online with their child(ren) at home. An email will be sent to you with an electronic link.
• Note: if you have multiple children in Kindergarten to Grade 6, you will be asked to fill out a separate Survey for each child.
• Students in Grades 7 to 12 will be asked to complete the Student Census Survey online at school using their secure DSBN student portal and logging into their email.

We recognize the importance of equity, dignity, well-being, diversity, and inclusion of all individuals, groups, and communities.

The Student Census Survey is important because it provides us with valuable insight into who our students are and the communities we serve. It will also provide us with an opportunity to hear our students’ voices and learn more about their lived experiences, which will help us be responsive to their needs.

The Student Census Survey findings will help the Board and our schools to:

• better understand student populations and school communities
• identify and eliminate barriers to student success, inclusion and well-being
• establish effective programs and reallocate resources to where they are needed most

Parents/Guardians of Kindergarten to Grade 6 students will be asked to complete the Census on behalf of their child(ren) between September 23 and October 8, 2024

Students in Grades 7 to 12 will be asked to complete the Census between September 23 and October 8, 2024

The Census follows Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan, the Province’s strategy for identifying and eliminating discriminatory practices, barriers and biases from schools and classrooms. It is a critical step to ensuring equity and addressing factors affecting it.

DSBN is committed to providing students with high quality education within an inclusive and bias-free environment. Collecting identity-based information will help us identify student groups who are underserved. From this, we will be able to better understand student populations and school communities, identify and eliminate barriers to student success, create more equitable and inclusive school environments and establish effective programs and reallocate resources in targeted and intentional ways.

• All students are asked to complete the Census Survey, however completing it is voluntary. The higher the completion rate, the richer and more reliable the information will be for school improvement and student success.
• Families of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 will be asked to complete the Student Census Survey online for each of their children at home. Parents/Guardians will receive an email to the account they have provided their child(ren)’s home school. Open the email and click on the link provided.
• Note: if you have multiple children in Kindergarten to Grade 6, you will receive a separate email for each child in Kindergarten to Grade 6.
• Students in Grades 7 to 12, including will access the Student Census Survey online during class time, using their secure DSBN student login and their DSBN email.

Yes, the Survey is voluntary and there are no consequences for not participating. You may choose to skip questions if you do not wish to provide answers or choose not to participate at all. However, it is important to note that the higher the completion rate, the richer and more reliable the information will be for school improvement and program planning. .

Families can contact the school by phone or via email to inform the school that they do not want their child to participate in the survey. Students in Grades 7 to 12 can choose not to participate if this is their choice or an agreed upon family decision. Participating in the Census provides consent and permits the use of the data to support student learning and well-being.

The Student Census Survey is a voluntary, confidential survey with eight (Kindergarten to Grade 6) or nine (Grades 7 to 12) multiple-choice identity-based questions. These include first languages, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender identity, disability, status in Canada, and sexual orientation (Grades 7 to 12 only).

Please note: the DSBN Student Census Survey is being conducted as mandated by the Anti-Racism Act. All the questions asked in the survey align with Data Standards for the Monitoring of Systemic Racism and are mandated.

Yes. Translated versions of the Census Survey are available for the most common first languages across DSBN. These include Arabic, Chinese (traditional), Dari, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Urdu. To access one of these translations, log into the survey and then select the language from the drop-down menu on the top right corner of the page. If you need help with translation for another language, please contact the school, and a staff member will work with you.

If you prefer a paper copy, please contact your school who will provide you with one.

If you are having difficulty logging in, or require more technical support, please contact the Principal of your home school or email us at student.census@dsbn.org

If we have not provided an answer to your question(s) in our FAQs please contact a member of the DSBN census committee by emailing student.census@dsbn.org.

The Student Census is confidential, but it is not anonymous. Confidential means we can identify who provided the information but ensure it remains private and protected from unauthorized access. Anonymous means we do not collect any identifying details about the respondents.

DSBN is working with a research company called the Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) who will assist staff in the data analysis. Individual responses will be confidential, and no individual student or family will be identifiable in the sharing of the results. Reports will not identify a student or family and will only contain summaries which will provide an understanding of school community needs.

All collected responses will be stored in a secure, confidential database and will only be accessed by authorized staff to identify and summarize trends among DSBN students. No DSBN staff member who works with your child would know the data a parent or student provides.

DSBN is committed to the highest levels of privacy and confidentiality in collecting information about students and follows all privacy requirements outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The information gathered through the Student Census is collected under the legal authority of the Education Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 2, as amended) for educational and research purposes only.

We respect the privacy of our students and families and we strictly adhere to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). MFIPPA is the provincial legislation that establishes responsibilities of school boards to protect personal information that is collected, used, retained, disclosed and disposed of.

We will maintain confidentiality and security in the following ways:

• The online survey data will be collected using a secure web server
• Student names will not appear on the completed survey
• Each survey will include a unique survey ID
• Processed paper copies will not include any information that will identify an individual student
• Only authorized DSBN staff and members of the research company Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) will have access to student data. Individual surveys will not be analyzed
• Data will be used to identify and summarize trends among DSBN students
• All data will be stored in a secure, confidential database. The retention and disposal of data will be according to the DSBN records retention schedule.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission encourages the collection and analysis of identity data for the purposes of: identifying and removing systemic barriers; preventing discrimination; and promoting equity and inclusivity.

Collection of identity-based data is supported by human rights legislative framework, including the Ontario Human Rights Code, and Section 15(2) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The information gathered through the Student Census is collected under the legal authority of the Education Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 2, as amended) for educational and research purposes only.

The DSBN is committed to the highest levels of privacy and confidentiality in collecting information about students and follows all privacy requirements outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

Once responses are processed and analyzed, the DSBN and Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) will produce a series of reports to help inform Board and school decision-making for programs and instruction. Data reports or analysis will never single out a student. By law, the DSBN cannot reveal individualized information for any student/parent who completes the Census.