School board reviewing suspension policy amid high rates

The Upper Canada District School board is reviewing its suspension policy, planning to bring in more “alternative” and “restorative” options for students with behavioural issues.

The board says it is reviewing its policy for discretionary suspensions, as its rate was one of the highest in Ontario last year. While the average suspension rate throughout the province has held steady at around two per cent for years, the local rate has been markedly higher.

“The board rate has remained stable throughout the last two years at six per cent,” Kathleen Moss said at last week's school board meeting.

Local suspensions in the 202324 school year were handed mostly to secondary school students, the board reported, with 52.2 per cent of the total going to those in grades 9 to 12. The majority of students were male, and 80 per cent of suspensions lasted one to two days. The remaining suspensions were given to students in grades 7 and 8 (21.7 per cent), and grades 4 to 6 (21.5 per cent).

Upper Canada's suspension rate has varied throughout the years; it was 6.2 per cent last year, six per cent in 2021-22, 3.2 per cent in 2020-21, 5.39 in 2019-20, and 7.15 per cent in 2018-19.

Dating back to 2007, however, provincial data show the local board's rate is consistently higher than the provincial average, which typically ranges between two and three per cent.

Now, the board is looking at how to manage the behaviours that lead to discretionary suspensions in a different way, and has set in motion a review to find alternative forms of consequence when possible. Superintendent Marsha Mcnair said a formal review of the suspension policies would help the board work toward preventive and proactive plans with the family and external agencies in lieu of removing the student from school.

Depending on the nature of the infraction, these measures could come in the form of a reflective exercise, a guided essay or speaking with a community partner to “do some reflection with the student around the impact the actions had on people” to make sure it doesn't happen again, she said.

Student trustee Afaq Virk, one of two student representatives on the board, said: “I've always found it a little bit counterintuitive that the disciplinary response to a student who might not want to attend school, or is facing absenteeism issues, or is generally acting ... like they don't want to be there, is that sort of exclusion from school itself, so it's great to see there is a bit of exploring being done on alternative practices and restorative practices.”