Creating safe, more accepting and inclusive schools is key to supporting student achievement and well-being.
That’s why, as part of Ontario’s Accepting Schools Comprehensive Action Plan, the Ministry of Education created an Accepting Schools Expert Panel.
The plan also includes the Accepting Schools Act (Bill 13), bringing
mental health support workers into schools, directing Ontario’s
Curriculum Council to provide input into strengthening equity and
inclusive education principles, and bullying prevention strategies
across the curriculum and creating a bullying prevention public
awareness campaign.
Bill 13, which came into effect on September 1, 2012, amended the Education Act, to:
- require boards to establish bullying prevention and intervention plans
- provide support to all students, including students who have engaged in bullying, have been bullied, or have witnessed incidents of bullying
- require principals to investigate all reported incidents of bullying
- establish goals for positive school climate and bullying prevention in their multi-year strategic plans to create greater accountability
The Accepting Schools Expert Panel consists of fifteen volunteer members,
including two co-chairs, Dr. Bruce Ferguson and Mary Gordon. All of the
members have a background working with children and youth in a wide
range of areas such as healthy child development, mental health and
emotional well-being and equity and inclusive education. Members have
been appointed for 18 months, but can possibly have their terms
extended.
By drawing on research evidence, as well as their expertise, the Panel will provide input to the ministry on:
- tools to help boards identify what resources and practices are likely to be effective to support positive school climates;
- the best ways to share this information with and engage the whole school community; and
- the development of the model plan for bullying prevention and intervention, as required by Bill 13, to help guide boards in developing their own plans.
The panel has also been meeting with parents and students and has
plans to meet with educators to get their perspective on inclusive
education and bullying prevention.
The expert panel is just one of the ways Ontario is supporting its
students to create safe, inclusive and accepting places to learn.
Source : peopleforeducation.ca/pfe-news/accepting-schools-expert-panel/
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