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.

Rainbow holds a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Centre for Gender and sexual Diversity, formerly Jer’s Vision. Founder Jeremy Dias has delivered several presentations in Rainbow Schools, and has help to foster the ongoing creation of positive school cultures where diversity is accepted and respected.

In the past, Rainbow has partnered with Dias to host the Embrace Diversity: Free to Be Me Conference (formerly Dare to Stand Out Conference) at various Rainbow secondary schools, and continues to utilize The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity as a valuable resource in the ongoing planning of future conference.

Embrace Diversity
Free to Be Me Conference

Rainbow District School Board hosts an annual conference to create and enhance school-based supports for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and two-spirited (LGBTQ2S) as well as students with friends and family members from these communities.

Students come together to address issues and brainstorm solutions to increase a sense of safety and belonging in their schools and communities. The conference begins with a keynote address followed by workshops on a variety of timely topics. Students leave with tools they can use to benefit all students.

Thursday, March 30, 2023
Students in Grades 7 and 8

Tuesday, April 27, 2023
Students in Grades 9 to 12

Equity Posters

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

Dealing Directly with Language