Creating safe and accepting schools: resources for schools and school boards
School boards can find policies and resources to help keep students feeling safe and accepted at school.
Overview
We put rules in place and provide resources for school boards so that students, staff, parents and community members feel safe and accepted at school.
School boards can find all policies related to safe and accepting schools, community safety, bullying and discipline on this page. Boards can also find resources and tools to help guide them as they follow these policies.
Safe and accepting schools policies
School boards must follow all of these policies to create safe and accepting schools.
- Policy/Program Memorandum 9: Reporting of Children in Need of Protection
- Policy/Program Memorandum 120: Reporting Violent Incidents to the Ministry of Education
- Policy/Program Memorandum 123: Safe Arrivals
- Policy/Program Memorandum 128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct
- Policy/Program Memorandum 141: School Board Programs for Students on Long-Term Suspensions
- Policy/Program Memorandum 142: School Board Programs for Expelled Students
- Policy/Program Memorandum 144: Bullying Prevention and Intervention
- Policy/Program Memorandum 145: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour
- Policy/Program Memorandum 166: Keeping Students Safe: Policy Framework for School Board Anti-Sex Trafficking Protocols
- Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol
Promote positive school climates
School boards should use these resources to help keep students, parents, staff and community members feeling safe, included and accepted.
- School climate surveys
- Shaping a culture of respect in our schools: promoting safe and healthy relationships
- Road map to reporting workplace violence in Ontario school boards
Promote school and community safety
School boards must use these policies to help keep students safe in school and in the community.
- Policy/Program Memorandum 9: Reporting of Children in Need of Protection
- Policy/Program Memorandum 120: Reporting Violent Incidents to the Ministry of Education
- Policy/Program Memorandum 123: Safe Arrivals
- Policy/Program Memorandum 128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct
- Policy/Program Memorandum 145: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour
- Policy/Program Memorandum 166: Keeping Students Safe: Policy Framework for School Board Anti-Sex Trafficking Protocols
- Provincial model for a local police/school board protocol
- Police Record Checks: Ontario Regulation 521/01, Collection of Personal information
Bullying prevention and intervention
School boards should use these strategies to prevent and address incidents of bullying at school and to foster a positive learning environment.
- Policy/Program Memorandum 144: Bullying Prevention and Intervention
- Bullying – we can all stop it – a guide for elementary and secondary students
Progressive discipline
School boards must promote positive student behaviours and address inappropriate behaviours that occur at school, at a school-related activity or in any other circumstances where the student's behaviour has an impact on the school climate.
- Policy/Program Memorandum 145: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour
- Policy/Program Memorandum 128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct
- Responding to activities and behaviours: Ontario Regulation 472/07, Behaviour, Discipline and Safety of Pupils
- Supporting bias-free progressive discipline in schools: a resource guide for school and system leaders
Suspensions and expulsions
Find policies for school boards and Ontario statistics on suspensions and expulsions
- Policy/Program Memorandum 141: School Board Programs for Students on Long-Term Suspensions
- Policy/Program Memorandum 142: School Board Programs for Expelled Students
- Suspension and Expulsion of Pupils: Ontario Regulation 472/07, Behaviour, Discipline and Safety of Pupils
- Understanding suspensions and expulsions
Resources for students and parents
School boards can help parents and guardians find information and resources to learn about creating safe, inclusive and accepting school environments where everyone — students, parents, staff and the community — feels welcome, safe and respected.
School boards can share these resources with parents and guardians using ontario.ca/SafeSchools.
There’s information on topics like:
- how to recognize and stop bullying
- Ontario’s code of conduct
- rules for disciplinary action, including suspensions and expulsions