Page 9 - CARING and SAFE SCHOOLS in ONTARIO

Ontario School Board Initiatives
▪ Ontario school boards have developed and implemented policies and procedures in accordance with the safe schools provisions of the Education Act, regulations under the act, and Ministry of Education requirements as set out in policy/program memoranda. These policies and procedures are publicly available on school boards’ websites. School boards also provide training related to safe schools policies for administrators, teachers, and other staff members.
Initiatives in Other Jurisdictions
▪ A review of other jurisdictions indicates that a number of other countries and, in Canada, the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador, also have policies to build and maintain a caring and safe environment in schools. These policies call for the allocation of resources and the involvement
of school staff and community members to develop and implement programs that promote school safety and a positive school climate. In some jurisdictions, multiple public services for children and youth play a role, including schools, mental health services, and the justice system. As well, most jurisdictions have provisions to address major issues such as bullying, harassment, violence, and the need for child protection.
Framework for Promoting Positive Student Behaviour
▪ The sample framework shown in Figure 1 depicts the components of a learning environment that is designed to promote student engagement and respond construct- ively to behavioural challenges.
CARING & SAFE SCHOOL CULTURE
Implementation of a progressive discipline approach
Understanding of student behaviour
FIGURE 1. FRAMEWORK FOR PROMOTING POSITIVE STUDENT BEHAVIOUR
Introduction
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Knowledge of strategies, tools, and resources