Positive school environments for student success
Learn how school boards and communities create positive school environments through student support programs, partnerships and school climate surveys.
Creating an environment for student success
A positive school environment helps your child learn, grow and succeed. This means your child’s school:
- works with the school board to prevent and address inappropriate or harmful behaviour
- builds equity and inclusive education into the learning environment
- has a culture of mutual respect
In an inclusive school environment, all students, staff members, parents, caregivers and community members are welcomed, included, treated fairy and respected. We all have a role to play. To create and maintain a positive school environment, school and school boards:
- promote positive behaviour
- involve the whole school community
- make the learning environment safe and accepting
- support students to succeed
Promoting positive behaviour
Every school board has a code of conduct, based on the provincial Code of Conduct. Each school:
To help achieve a positive school climate, boards and schools should:
- promote positive behaviour through the board's code of conduct and equity and inclusive education policy
- demonstrate respect, fairness and kindness
- build healthy relationships that are free from discrimination and harassment
Involving the whole school community
Schools and school boards involve all members of the school community in meaningful dialogue and open and ongoing conversations to address barriers to inclusion, including:
- students
- parents, caregivers and guardians
- families
- Elders
- external agencies
- school staff and principals
- school community members
Building equity and inclusion into the learning environment
Schools and school boards promote a positive learning environment where everyone feels safe and accepted by:
- strengthening bullying prevention and intervention strategies and awareness-raising for students and staff
- including equity and inclusive education throughout the curriculum
- reflecting the diversity of all learners in the learning environment, instructional materials and teaching and assessment strategies
Supporting students to succeed
Schools and school boards work to:
- encourage students to be positive leaders and role models (for example, by speaking out on issues such as bullying)
- inspire and support every student to succeed in an environment of high expectations
- support students through programs and initiatives
School climate surveys
School boards must conduct a school climate survey at least once every 2 years with:
- their students
- parents and caregivers
- school staff
The Ministry of Education sets the basic requirements, but each school board decides what questions to ask and how many.
These surveys are voluntary and responses are anonymous. You may choose whether your child participates.
School climate surveys help schools:
- understand how safe students, staff and families feel at school
- check whether programs to support safety and inclusion are working
- build and maintain a positive school environment
Safe and Accepting Schools teams and school boards use this information to promote a positive school environment and to guide planning decisions that help prevent and address bullying.
Promoting school community and safety
Schools and school boards have policies and protocols in place to:
- promote positive and safe behaviour
- prevent harmful or inappropriate behaviour, including bullying
- address inappropriate behaviour through progressive discipline
- respond to safety incidents
Supporting student success
Schools offer programs to help students who face barriers or need extra help to succeed and thrive in their learning.
Each school has a student success team that gives extra attention and support to students who need it.
In addition to student success teams, there are other programs to help students, including:
- Urban and Priority High Schools program: helps students overcome academic challenges and develop as leaders
- Focus on Youth Program: connects students to their communities through job skills training, employment opportunities and other academic and recreational programs that prepare them for life after high school
- Graduation Coach Program for Black Students and the Indigenous Graduation Coach Program: supports academic success and help remove systemic barriers in classrooms and school communities
Learn more about programs for student success.
Related
School rules: provincial Code of Conduct