Equity and Inclusive Education

Equity and Inclusive Education

Guided by the results of a school climate survey in the spring of 2018, Rainbow District School Board continues to make Equity and Inclusive Education a priority. The Board is committed to ensuring that all students and staff work in learning environments that are safe, welcoming and inclusive, the building blocks for student achievement and well-being.

Staff explored the impact of poverty on learning and shared strategies to meet the needs of all students regardless of socio-economic barriers.

All of the Board’s secondary schools have Gay Straight Alliances. They are designed to support students who identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited or questioning, and students who may have friends, parents or other family members from these communities.

Embrace Diversity
Free to Be Me Conference

The Free to Be Me Conference is an annual event which brings together students who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ and their allies. The conference allows students to select from a range of age-appropriate workshops as well as provides an opportunity to build new friendships with students from other schools.

Students address issues and brainstorm solutions to increase a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities.

Students choose workshops that are relevant and meet their needs.

The goal of the conference is to give students tools they can bring back to their schools to support their communities.

Friday, March 28, 2025
Grades 7 and 8

Friday, May 9, 2025
Grades 9 to 12

Safe Space sends message about inclusion

The Equity and Inclusive Education Committee and the Mental Health Team have created Safe Space stickers.

Safe Space is an important indicator that a classroom or school is a physically and emotionally safe space for 2SLGBTQI+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex) people.

It signals to youth that we are committed to creating a safer school climate for all students.

Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy

School leaders and classroom teachers continue to develop fluency in delivering academic content through Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP). CRRP is a framework for building positive schools and classroom environments, improving student responsibility and success, encouraging parent-school relationships, and building strong community connections.

This framework recognizes that all students learn in ways that are connected to their background, language, family structure, and social or cultural identity. Culturally relevant and responsive teachers meet students where they are and understand who they are. CRRP helps students to strengthen their sense of identity and develop a positive self-image. It also affirms the worth of all students. CRRP helps create inclusive environments that recognize and celebrate all identities, lived experiences and cultures.

Equity Workshops

Rainbow District School Board is committed to ensuring that all students and staff work in learning environments that are safe, welcoming and inclusive, the building blocks for student achievement and well-being.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the Board has partnered with Future North to deliver workshops for students in Grade 9. The workshops will focus on equity, diversity and inclusive education.

A youth-led organization, Future North engages young people in building better communities. Students will learn the importance of respectful, inclusive practices to further nurture a positive school culture.

Future North works collaboratively with young people to improve, transform and create systems that honour their lived experiences and address their needs.

Equity Posters

A series of posters promoting equity and inclusion were distributed to all Rainbow Schools in September 2016.

Dealing Directly with Language