Student Census

The ​Student Census​ consists of approximately eight multiple choice questions about various aspects of students’ identities such as Indigenous identity, racial and ethnic backgrounds, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation (Grade 7-12 only), disability/different abilities, and first language learned at home. Please note that questions and response options in this survey come from (or are informed by) direction, guidance and/or best practices from the Ministry of Education, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Racism Directorate, other Ontario school boards, and/or community organizations that reflect the diverse communities we serve.

DDSB is committed to addressing system barriers to student success. System barriers negatively affect students’ educational access, experiences, opportunities, and outcomes. To better understand our students by using gathered identity-based information through the Student Census, we can identify, prevent, and address discriminatory barriers and develop and revise programs, strategies, policies, and instructional practices, as well as allocate resources and supports to create more equitable and inclusive school environments and improve student achievement and well-being.

Each family in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 will receive an invitation email with a unique code to complete the online survey with their children at home. Please be advised that the unique ID code provided in the email is valid for one time submission only and it is only applicable for the student assigned to it.

Students in Grades 7 to 12 will be provided with an opportunity to complete the online survey at school with the unique code provided through their student email account. School administrators will ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in the Student Census. Students can choose to participate in the survey either at school or at another time or location of their choosing.

For the most secure and best experience, we recommend using the newest version of the following browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. 

The DDSB is committed to meeting our responsibilities under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The Student Census is also available in paper format and large print. If you require an accessible or alternative format to access or complete the survey, please email census@ddsb.ca for further assistance. 

The Census should only take 8-10  minutes to complete.

Ontario legislation governing student participation in a board-initiated survey for planning and programming purposes permits the collection of survey data without a formal parental/guardian consent. Students in Grade 7-12 can choose to participate if this is their choice or an agreed upon family decision. Parents/guardians of students under the age of 16 will have the opportunity to opt out of their child’s participation in the Survey on behalf of their child.

The Ontario Human Rights Code permits the collection and analysis of identity data for the purposes of identifying and removing systemic barriers, preventing discrimination, and promoting equity and inclusivity. Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan also encourages school boards to collect student identity-based data for the purpose of achieving these goals. The Anti-Racism Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c 15, and section 169.1 (1)(2.1) of the Ontario Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 2 (as amended) also permits the collection of identity-based data.

Yes. Census questions, as well as other communication documents, will be posted on the Board website for students and families to review prior to the launch date.

Participation in the student census is voluntary. Students/families may choose to skip questions if they do not wish to provide answers or choose not to participate at all. However, it is important to note that a high completion rate matters, as the richer and more reliable the information will be for school improvement and program planning.

Every student at DDSB has the opportunity to participate in the Student Census. Although students in Grades 7-12 will be provided with an opportunity to complete the census in class, students are welcome to complete the census at another time, for example at home with assistance from their parents/guardians or caregivers. 

The census will also be translated into the most frequently spoken languages at home other than English in the DDSB. Both the Kindergarten – Grade 6 and Grades 7 – 12 Census will be available in the following languages: Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), Tamil, and Urdu. Participants can choose their preferred language at the top of the cover page on the online survey. 

Disclaimer: We have attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original English document to support your understanding. However, due to the nuances in translating to a foreign language, slight differences may exist. The original English document is the official document and is available at the Resources section at the end of this page.

If you require an accessible or alternative format, please email census@ddsb.ca.

The Student Census is confidential but not anonymous. To ensure confidentiality of the data, no identifying information such as student name or student ID number will be asked in the survey. To protect students' privacy, no personal identification will be shared or released. However, the Student Census is not anonymous because students/parents are required to enter a unique ID code to participate.

A confidential and secure database will hold the responses. All responses can only be accessed by a small team within the Research Department, strictly for analysis and research purposes. These steps comply with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

The online survey uses an encrypted survey code and a forced encrypted questionnaire with secure methodology (HTTP / SSL over TLS). This electronic database is housed at the secured DDSB server. Paper surveys returned to the DDSB Research Department will be data-entered into a secure database.

Once responses are processed and analyzed, the DDSB Research Department will produce a series of aggregated (grouped data only) reports. Identity-based questions (e.g., race, gender) will be used to explore differences in the educational experiences of various student groups. Understanding the identities of our students is critical to identifying and removing barriers to student achievement and well-being. These will help to inform and positively influence decision-making for programs and instruction, made at both the board and school levels. This data will not be used to identify and/or single out individual students, and the data is kept confidential.

Students who do not complete the census will not be denied access to any programs or initiatives.