Q: What is the purpose of
the Every Student Counts Survey (ESCS)?
A: From November 12-30, 2018,
all YRDSB students in Grades 7 to 12 and parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 were invited
to participate in a system-wide census entitled, the
Every Student Count Survey (ESCS). The purpose of the survey is to
better understand our students and their experiences in school and outside
of school. The
survey evaluates YRDSB’s Equity Action Plan and
fulfills the Minister of Education’s Direction #10. The
Board is using the overall findings to help improve our schools and to:
- Identify and eliminate systemic barriers to
student success;
- Create more equitable and inclusive school
environments; and,
- Improve student achievement and well-being.
YRDSB is using the data of the ESCS as an opportunity to honour
our students’ voices and learn more about their school experiences in order to
be responsive to their needs.
Q: Why did the survey ask
students about identity-based information?
A: YRDSB is committed to addressing systemic barriers to
student success, creating more equitable and inclusive school environments, and
improving student achievement and well- being. Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan encourages school
boards to collect student identity-based data for the purpose of achieving
these goals. Accordingly, we need to have a better understanding of who our
students are and how they experience learning within our schools in order to
support their needs, interests and aspirations. Collecting identity-based data
is important for evaluating how well our programs, resources and practices
support all YRDSB students. Research shows
that students from historically and currently marginalized populations often face systemic barriers to learning and success.
Systemic barriers are policies, programs
and practices that result in particular groups
of students receiving inequitable access to opportunities or being excluded
in a way that creates
or maintains disadvantages for
these marginalized groups. To this end, the ESCS included questions about
various aspects of students’ identities (e.g., racial/ethnic background, sexual
orientation, etc.). Collecting identity-based information through the ESCS
helps us identify the groups of students being
underserved so that we can develop and revise programs,
strategies, policies and teaching
practices, as well as allocate resources and supports to improve school
environments and help
every student succeed.
Q: How
have other school boards used census survey data?
A: Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has already
conducted Student and Parent/Guardian Census Surveys. TDSB’s Census results have
been used to: (a) identify achievement gaps among students, (b) align programs
and resources to better meet the needs of underserved students, and (c)
establish baseline data to measure improvement over time.
Q: How did the
families/students complete YRDSB’s Every Student Counts survey?
A: Families of students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
were invited to complete the survey with their children at home. Students in
Grades 7 to 12 completed the survey at school. School administrators ensured
that all students, including those attending alternative programs, received
their invitation to participate in the survey.
Q: How
much time did the survey take to complete at home or at school?
A:
The survey took about 20-30 minutes to complete.
Q. Was the ESCS available
for students with special education needs?
A: For accessibility purposes, all of the accommodations,
supports and assistive technology necessary were provided to ensure that every
student had the opportunity to participate in the survey. The survey was also
available in paper, large print and braille.
Students in Grades 7-12 who were not able to complete the survey independently at school or with the accommodations and supports
they typically receive had the option to complete the survey at home with
the support of their parents/guardians or caregivers.
Q: Was the
ESCS available in languages other than English?
A: Yes. The survey for students in Junior Kindergarten to
Grade 6 was available in the following top 12 languages identified by York
Region demographics and school board enrolment data: English, Arabic, Chinese
(Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, Gujarati, Hebrew, Korean, Punjabi,
Russian, Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese. The survey for Grades 7 to 12 students was
available in the top 6 languages as identified by school board enrolment data:
English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, Russian, Tamil and Urdu.
Q: Was the ESCS available in French?
A:
The ESCS was not available in French. The survey was translated into the
most frequently spoken languages as identified by York Region demographics and
YRDSB’s enrolment data. French, while one of our country’s official
languages, has not been widely
identified as a primary
language by YRDSB families according to this data. Staff members were made
available to interpret any materials for French speaking students and families,
as needed.
Q: Was the survey
anonymous?
A: The ESCS was confidential but not anonymous. To ensure
confidentiality, no directly identifying information (such as student name) was
on the survey. As one of the main purposes of
the survey is to identify
and eliminate systemic
barriers to student
success, all surveys
included a unique code used to link the survey data with achievement
data. The purpose of linking these data is to identify the groups of students
being underserved so that we can develop and revise programs, strategies,
policies and teaching practices, as well as allocate resources and supports to
improve school environments. To protect students’ identities, survey results
will only be reported in aggregate form (grouped data only) and no individual
students will be identified.
Q: Was parental consent
required before students completed the survey?
A: Formal consent
from parents or guardians was not required for the ESCS. Legislation regarding participation of students in a
board-initiated survey intended for planning and programming purposes permits
the collection of survey data without formal parent/guardian consent.
Families of students in Grades K-6 provided consent by completing the
survey. Families of students in Grades 7-12 withdrew their child from
participation in the survey by contacting CCI Research at 1-866-450-4907 no
later than October 9, 2018.
Q: Did the collection of
personal information violate the Human Rights Code or the Protection of
Privacy?
A: No. The collection of identity-based data in the ESCS
is supported by Canada’s human rights legislative framework, including the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Ontario
Human Rights Code, and
section 15(2) of the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms. The Ontario Human
Rights Code permits and encourages the collection and
analysis of identity data for the purposes of: identifying and removing
systemic barriers, preventing discrimination, and promoting equity and inclusivity.
When collecting personal information such as identity-based data,
the YRDSB follows all privacy requirements outlined in 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 about individuals including students that is collected,
used, retained, disclosed and disposed of.
Q: What
security procedures were in place to ensure confidentiality and security of the
data?
A: CCI Research was contracted to work with
YRDSB to conduct the survey and to ensure data privacy, security and adherence
to all relevant legislation. At YRDSB’s request, CCI Research completed a Third
Party Service Provider Privacy Review and an Independent Security Assessment.
To ensure confidentiality of the data, no directly
identifying information such as student
name or student ID number was
in the survey response data or on completed paper surveys. The online survey
used an encrypted survey code and a forced encrypted questionnaire with secure methodology (HTTP / SSL over TLS). Paper surveys
returned to CCI Research were scanned into a
secure database and then destroyed. The database was then transferred to YRDSB
using encryption techniques and secure protocols. Only YRDSB’s Research and
Assessment Services departments have access to the database for analysis and
research purposes. This electronic database is housed at YRDSB for an
indefinite period as YRDSB will monitor trends and improvements over time when subsequent ESCSs are implemented. It is expected
that the Every Student Counts Survey will be
conducted every 4-5 years.
Looking
for More Information?
If you
have any questions
regarding the Every
Student Counts Survey,
please contact equity@yrdsb.ca or your school
principal. Additional information about the survey is available online.