2026 will mark the third Student Census in Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB). Data analyzed from the last student census in 2024 identified patterns of disproportionality for some groups of students, including lower achievement rates across multiple academic measures, including EQAO results and report card marks. There were also successes identified through the disproportionality analysis which reinforce the importance of building safe and inclusive classrooms and school communities.
The Student Census in TLDSB follows the Ontario government established, Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism, also known as Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards (ARDS). Collecting Student Census data on these questions helps the Board and schools to identify and monitor barriers, including systemic racism and racial disparities. Further, combining the data gathered through the ARDS with experience data and academic achievement data helps the Board and schools to closely examine disproportionality data and make changes to programming, resources, and target intervention to ensure that all students have the opportunity for equitable outcomes in student achievement and well-being.
TLDSB is committed to continued progress towards equity and inclusion for everyone in our system. In particular TLDSB has been focused on Equity of Outcomes – Every Student, Every Day, Every Way. The Student Census recognizes and values the experiences and perspectives of our students to help us both better understand the evolving communities that we serve and to be responsible for removing barriers that prevent students from having an equal access to education.
Supporting Every Student, Every Day in Every Way is a TLDSB focus. Participation in the census by students in Grades 7 – 12, and by parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 helps the Board to make data based decisions to:
The Board is undertaking a voluntary Student Census on Tuesday, March 3, to collect identity-based demographic information. The data collected from students will provide the school system with valuable information that will help to improve strategic planning, programming, and services with a focus on student achievement and engagement. Once fully compiled, a report of the data will be shared with our families without identifying information to help our communities better understand our population.
The Student Census is confidential and voluntary, but not anonymous. Individual responses, and all personal student and family information will remain strictly confidential protected under the freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation. Census questions are grade-level appropriate, consistent with The Ontario Curriculum, Health and Physical Education (2019). The Kindergarten – Grade 6 census does not contain the question related to sexual orientation.
Kindergarten – Grade 6
For students in Kindergarten to Grade 6, one census per student is to be completed by parents/guardians with their child online. Parents/guardians will receive a unique link for each of their child(ren) on Tuesday, March 3. If a paper copy is required, please see your school secretary for a copy. Please note that the survey will remain open online from March 3 – March 10, 2026.
Grades 7 – 12
Students in Grades 7 to 12 will have class time to complete the census on Tuesday, March 3. As this is a voluntary census, parents/guardians can choose to opt their child out of participation by completing the Census Opt-out Google Form by Thursday, February 12, 2026.
The purpose of the Student Census is to identify barriers so that TLDSB can work to address them and to identify areas of strength that can be built upon. The Student Census asks questions about identity related topics that are protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code (race, citizenship, ethnic origin, creed, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation), and combines this information with questions about school experiences. The results of the census questions are then linked to student achievement data to help understand how identities, school experiences, and achievement relate to one another. Combining survey answers with academic achievement data helps TLDSB see where barriers may exist for students. Removing these barriers is the work of all TLDSB staff to promote equitable opportunities for student achievement and well-being regardless of identity.
Most of the questions on the Student Census are either required or recommended questions from the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism, also known as Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards (ARDS). Collecting Student Census data on these questions helps the Board and schools to identify and monitor systemic racism and racial disparities. Further, combining the data gathered through the ARDS with experience data and academic achievement data helps the Board and schools to closely examine disproportionality data and make changes to programming, resources and target intervention to ensure that all students have the opportunity for equitable outcomes in student achievement and well-being.
The identity question and the related Anti-Racism Data Standard are outlined in the chart below:
| Identity question | Anti-Racism Data Standard (required or recommended) |
|---|---|
|
Language(s) first spoken |
Standard 12 (Recommended) |
|
Indigenous identity |
Standard 13 (Required) |
|
Status in Canada |
Standard 12 (Recommended) |
|
Ethnic origin |
Standard 17 (Required) |
|
Race |
Standard 14 and 15 (Required) |
|
Religion, Creed, spiritual affiliation, or belief |
Standard 16 (Required) |
|
Gender identity |
Standard 12 (Recommended) |
|
Sexual orientation (Grades 7 – 12 only) |
Standard 12 (Recommended) |
|
Disability, chronic health issue, or exceptionality |
Standard 12 (Recommended) |
|
School safety and belonging |
Not applicable to standards.
Related to various Ministry policy/program memoranda, which address student safety and creating safe and inclusive environments.
|
|
Socio-economic status |
Standard 12 (Recommended) |
For additional information about why the various questions on the Student Census are asked, see the relevant Student Census section below:
This question helps us to have a better understanding of the different languages TLDSB students and their parents/guardians speak. This helps us to understand what translations might be needed for various resources so that we are better able to support families who have a first language other than English or French.
TLDSB is committed to the work of Truth and Reconciliation. Understanding the people who make up the Indigenous community within TLDSB helps to ensure appropriate support and resources can be provided through the Indigenous Student Success Team. This question also helps to understand student experiences with anti-indigenous racism or colonialism.
The question about status in Canada helps us to identify, monitor, and address potential barriers to education faced by newcomers, immigrants, and refugees. By understanding how immigration status intersects with student experiences, school boards can ensure equitable access to services and support to help all students succeed.
Ethnicity is a group of people who share a common culture, nationality, language, or background. It is possible to have multiple ethnicities. This question helps to understand student experiences with systemic racism or racial disparities based on ethnic origin.
The question about race helps to understand student experiences with racism, including systemic racism or experiences with inequitable access to programs. The options listed are set in the Standards and students who are mixed race can pick more than one option.
This question helps to understand student experiences with racism, such as Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious discrimination.
Gender identity is a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Asking about gender identity helps to understand student experiences and to identify barriers that might be impacting student’s achievement and well-being.
Sexual orientation is a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Students who identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community can experience harassment and discrimination. Information gathered from this part of the Student Census is used by the Positive Space Committee (a working group of the Equity Steering Committee) to educate staff and to implement initiatives to promote inclusion for all students.
These questions help to establish a deeper understanding of how students in TLDSB view themselves. There was a negative disproportionality for students who identified as having a disability, chronic health issue, or exceptionality on the 2023-2024 Student Census. The Special Education Department is using this data to implement improvements to screener data, training of staff and targeted supports for students.
The questions on school safety and belonging mirror those on the Climate Survey, which is completed in alternate years but which does not contain identity based data. Being able to compare how safe students feel at school and if they identify as having a sense of belonging will help to identify any patterns linked to student identity data such as bullying towards a particular identity group.
Questions linked to socio-economic status help to assess access to resources, and to identify disparities in health and social outcomes. This information is used by the Board to identify schools where additional resources may be needed.
Personal information collected in this census is under the authority of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, sections 169.1(1) and 170(1), the Anti-Racism Act 2017, section 6 and in accordance with section 28(2) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal information collected will be used by TLDSB for educational and research purposes, to support TLDSB schools and provide effective educational programs and services, and to eliminate systemic racism and advance racial equity. Questions or concerns about the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information should be directed to your school principal, or the Board privacy officer at [email protected].
Collection of identity-based data is supported by Canada’s Human Rights Legislative Framework, which includes the Canadian Human Rights Act, The Ontario Human Rights Code, and section 15(2) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Ontario Human Rights Commission allows and encourages the collection and analysis of identity-based data for the purposes of identifying and removing systemic barriers, preventing discrimination, and promoting equity and inclusivity.
The student census is confidential and voluntary, but not anonymous. Individual responses, and all personal student and family information will remain strictly confidential, protected under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Personal information collected in the TLDSB student census is under the authority of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, sections 169.1, 170 (1), and 171 (1), the Anti-Racism Act 2017, and in accordance with Section 29 (2) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
No. The census itself is confidential but not anonymous. The resulting reports will summarize the data collected. No individual student or family will be identified in the final reports.
The encrypted data will be collected securely through Qualtrics in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and best practices. Once the survey period is closed, the data will be transferred to the TLDSB data warehouse in accordance with the Board’s BD-2121 Privacy, Information Management and Access to Information Procedure.
Raw data collected from survey respondents is housed securely within Qualtrics’ Canadian cloud service until the survey is closed and all information from paper copies is entered. This information is accessible only to TLDSB’s research and data analyst.
The encrypted data will then be securely downloaded by TLDSB’s research and data analyst to the TLDSB data warehouse in accordance with the Board’s BD-2121 Privacy, Information Management and Access to Information Procedure, where it will be accessible only by TLDSB’s research and data analyst and database and reporting solutions manager. All data will be deleted from Qualtrics’ servers at this time.
Once responses are collected and the primary data is cleaned by TLDSB’s research and data analyst, they will work with our consulting firm, Turner Consulting Group, using datasets drawn from the primary data to conduct initial analysis and reporting. These datasets will contain no personal identifying information.
Working collaboratively with the TLDSB Equity Steering Committee the research and data analyst with engage community advisory groups to further analyze the resulting datasets to help identify gaps and trends in the information. Again, these datasets will contain no personal identifying information.
The data collected from students and parents/guardians will provide the school system, families, and the community with valuable information that can help to improve programming and services for the benefit of all students, with a focus on student achievement and engagement. The Board will share reporting that will help inform Board and school decision-making for programs and instruction that focus on eliminating barriers to student success and enriching students’ learning by providing appropriate supports. Census reports will be shared publicly, along with information on how this data has helped to guide TLDSB’s programming, strategic planning, policies, practices, resources, and supports.
TLDSB has completed two student censuses — one that took place in the 2021-2022 school year, and another in the 2023-2024 school year. Please use the drop downs below for more information on the data collected:
The results of the 2024 TLDSB Student Census are available in the 2024 Student Census Report. You can also view the findings in the created infographic.
If you require this information in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].
The results of the 2022 TLDSB Student Census are available in the 2022 Student Census Report.
If you require this information in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].
The Student Census is a voluntary, confidential survey for all students in the TLDSB that will collect identity-based data to help our communities understand and better support equity and inclusion. The data collected from students and parents/guardians will provide the school system, families, and the community with valuable information that can help to improve programming and services for the benefit of all students.
School boards across Ontario are required by Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan and Anti-Racism Act, 2017 to gather and report identity-based data. The gathering of this data also aligns with the Board’s strategic planning and commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and celebrated.
Please see the sample surveys below:
If you require either of the documents linked above in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].
The student census is voluntary. Parents/guardians can choose not to complete the survey for students in grades Kindergarten through 6. Parents/guardians may choose to opt their Grades 7 through 12 children out of participation during class by completing the TLDSB Student Census – Grade 7-12 Opt-out Google Form. However, it’s important to note that a higher completion rate will give the Board a more accurate representation to help with school improvement and program planning.
The student census is voluntary. Those who participate will have the opportunity to skip questions they would prefer not to answer. However, it’s important to note that a higher completion rate will give the Board a more accurate representation to help with school improvement and program planning.
For students in Kindergarten to Grade 6, the census is to be completed by parents/guardians online or on paper (upon request). Grade 7 to 12 students will have the opportunity to complete the census in class, with parent/guardian consent.
The online census has been created to meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards.
The survey will be available in the following languages:
Paper copies will be available upon request through your school office.
Please see the 2026 Student Census – Glossary and support information document.
Note – if you require this in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].
If you have further questions or would like additional information, please contact the TLDSB Equity Task Force email at [email protected].
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