Fairness in BC’s public schools

We are investigating the circumstances in which BC’s public K-12 schools are asking or telling students not to attend school. We will assess whether those practices are fair for all students, especially those with diverse abilities who end up at home with little or no support or time with teachers and classmates.
Students can be kept out of school in many ways. This can happen when schools formally suspend students or send them home for medical reasons under the School Act. But it can also happen when students are:
– asked to stay home/go home
– asked to leave early/arrive late/have shortened school days or modified schedules
– asked not to attend field trips or other school activities
– unable to attend school because of health/personal care support needs the school is unable to provide
– unable to attend school because of learning support needs the school is unable to provide
– not learning with the rest of their class
– isolated by themselves in the school, secluded and/or restrained
In some cases, these practices may be consistent with inclusive education. For example, a student may learn better at home because of their unique educational needs, or a school may be unable to accommodate a student in person because doing so would create undue hardship. Some students may be provided with equal access to education at home that is appropriate to their circumstances and needs. But in other cases, these practices might not be fair or consistent with inclusive education. We know that each student’s situation is different, and we want to hear about a wide range of experiences.

 When we talk about “diverse abilities,” we mean students who have a wide range of needs, including:
– intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural challenges
– learning disabilities
– exceptional gifts or talents
This definition comes from Ministerial Order 150/89.
We know that many of these students will have a Ministry-designated inclusive education category and an Individual Education Plan (IEP), but some will not.

Our questionnaires for education professionals and students and families are now closed. We are grateful to each respondent for taking the time to share their experiences and insights with us. We are reviewing every submission as part of drafting the report.

If you did not have an opportunity to submit a questionnaire and still want to share your story, you can reach us info@bcombudsperson.ca. Please include Fairness in BC’s Public Schools in the subject line.