Advancing Human Rights and Equity

The goal of education is student success during the learning years and later in life. This goal can only be achieved in a learning environment where students feel safe and welcome and do not experience discrimination due to personal characteristics that are protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

In promoting the inherent dignity of every student, and in alignment with the Ontario government’s recognition that “the work must be ongoing to ensure that our schools continue to provide caring, inclusive, safe, and accepting environments that support the achievement and well-being of every student”, the Durham Catholic District School Board will continue to advance equitable and inclusive education. 

Goals and Strategies

Deepen the culture of respect for the inherent dignity and human rights of every student, staff and family in DCDSB

Enhance and extend capacity development for addressing human rights-related issues through more focused, relevant, and co-constructed training to build capacity for all board staff
Amplify student voice and improve student capacity to address human rights- and equity-related discrimination (e.g., Student Human Rights Conference; consultation with secondary school student groups)

Effectively address human rights, equity, and discrimination concerns/complaints through a dedicated complaints resolution process that promotes early/informal resolution

Implement the DCDSB Human Rights Concern/Complaint Resolution Process system-wide

Promote community engagement through collaboration with board Advisory Committees to remove systemic barriers with a view to improving student learning and success

Address issues relevant to marginalized groups through an Equity Invitational Learning Series for the DCDSB community (i.e., staff, students, parents/guardians/caregivers, community partners)
Showcase the equity initiatives and programs in the board for increased awareness among all stakeholders, and engagement/participation among students

Use demographic data to address student enrolment, suspension/expulsions, and overall well-being, and to close the representation gap for marginalized employees

Conduct a Workforce Census in October 2024
Use disaggregated data from the Student Demographic Survey and the Workforce Census to inform resource allocation, appropriate programming, and required policy review
Use data from the Workforce Census related to Ontario Human Rights Code-specific demographics to improve representation for marginalized employees

Equity Action Plan

Details regarding Training and Staff Development and Community and Staff Engagement can be found in the 2023 – 2024 Equity Action Plan at a Glance.