The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) strives to build learning communities that provide students with equitable opportunities to reach their potential and develop into respectful, creative, and knowledgeable community members who contribute to society.
A strong commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility is embedded throughout the OCDSB 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and captured within each area of focus: learning, well-being, and social responsibility. In essence, the OCDSB strives to ensure that schools are welcoming and safe places for students of all identities to feel valued and respected as they engage, learn, grow, explore, and discover.
To assist with the realization of this goal, the Equity Department works to ensure all identities are seen, heard and nurtured within the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) community. This work involves disrupting and removing barriers that limit the potential, well-being, and achievement of all students.
The equity system principal, equity advisor, instructional coaches, 2SLGBTQ+ and racialized student support coordinators, and graduation coaches for Black students work as a team to achieve three key objectives: revising practices at both the school and system level which disadvantage diverse students, enhancing supports for diverse students, and improving staff capacity to embed equity in all of their work and use culturally responsive and relevant practices.
To date, there have been various initiatives designed to support diverse students and build capacity of staff which include workshops, diversifying curriculum resources and course offerings, enhancing student supports, implementation of reporting tools such as the safe school reporting tool for students, and the launching of the Anti-Hate Toolkit: a resource which helps educators identify, challenge, and educate about various forms of hate and oppression in schools.