The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) is committed to ensuring the success of all our students. It is our responsibility as educators to understand the unique experiences of our student population in order to reduce inequities and better serve their varied needs. We are pleased to announce that we will conduct our first Student Census in April and May of 2023. The data we obtain will help us understand the diversity of our students, their academic achievements and school experiences.
Administering the Student Census is mandated by the Ministry of Education and is guided by the Anti-Racism Data Standards; however, the development and implementation of this survey is also one part of the Board’s ongoing Equity Action Plan that includes the Staff Census and Employment Systems Review. The GECDSB has partnered with Turner Consulting Group to provide support for our ongoing equity work. This work also aligns with the GECDSB’s commitment to student success and well-being.
The Student Census will be confidential and voluntary. Responses to the survey will be kept in a confidential database. All responses can only be accessed by the consultant and the Superintendent of Human Resources, strictly for analysis and research purposes. Access and maintenance of this data will comply with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
It is important to note that the census will be confidential, but not anonymous. The purpose of collecting this data is to analyze the experiences of students. To do this, we need to merge the survey data with data from our student information system. This means that we need to include a way to identify students.
We understand that families may have questions about the Student Census and in some cases may be hesitant to share this information with us. We have developed a list of frequently asked questions that will be regularly updated leading up to the Census.
If you have any additional questions, please forward them to [email protected].
Student Census FAQ Student Census Glossary
2023 Student Census Questions
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