Student Demographic Survey FAQ

The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board Student Survey: Valuing Your Voice is an online survey that will collect data about our students’ identity and school experiences. The survey will include questions related to Indigenous identity, racial identity, ethnic/cultural background, religious/spiritual affiliation, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, (dis)abilities, and school experiences. 

The results of the BHNCDSB Student Survey will help us gain a better understanding of our students’ experiences, strengths, and their needs so that we can develop programming and allocate resources to support students where needs are greatest. The results of the survey will also help to identify and eliminate any discriminatory practices and systemic barriers to ensure equitable access to opportunities for all individuals in the BHNCDSB community.

All school boards in Ontario are required by the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 15, the Education Act R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, and Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan to gather and report identity-based data.

The BHNCDSB Student Survey is an important opportunity for students to share their experiences with us. Learning about the experiences of our students will provide us with important information on how our programs and services have impacted student learning, achievement, and well-being.

The purpose of the BHNCDSB Student Survey is to:

• Better understand who our students and families are
• Better understand what our students and families need to be successful at school
• Identify and eliminate discriminatory practices, systemic barriers and bias in order to ensure equitable opportunities and outcomes
• Inform program planning and the allocation of resources so that they support students where their needs are greatest

The information gathered will also ensure that future programming will meet the needs of our students and families.

Students and families will complete the BHNCDSB Student Survey in March 2025.

Students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8: Students will complete the survey at home with their parent(s) or caregiver(s). Students and their families will access the link to the BHNCDSB Student Survey through students’ BrightSpace accounts.

Students in Grade 9 to 12: Students will complete the survey in class, during class time with support from their teachers. We will provide students with a secure link to complete BHNCDSB Student Survey through their BrightSpace accounts. 

Request for paper copies of the survey can be made at the end of February 2025.

Participation in the BHNCDSB Student Survey is voluntary. We are encouraging all students to participate so that we will be able to get an accurate picture of our student population. Students are free to skip any questions they do not wish to answer and may stop participating at any time. Families will have the option to opt their child(ren) out of participation by completing an opt-out form which will be available in your child’s school office in the February 2025.

The Ministry of Education has provided a series of questions that school boards must administer to collect requisite demographic information. Additional questions were added to the Board to gain more insight into students’ experiences. These questions were drawn from other surveys administered, and created to reflect topics of interest as identified by members of the BHNCDSB community. This process engaged students, parents, educators, administrators, community leaders and elders, as well as the following groups: 

• The Diocese of London, Niagara, and Hamilton
• Ministry of Education
• BHNCDSB Trustees
• BHNCDSB Senior Team
• OECTA and OSSTF
• CPCO

The BHNCDSB Student Survey will be asking questions about students’ identity, including Indigenous identity, racial identity, ethnic/cultural background, religious/spiritual affiliation, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, (dis)abilities, household experiences, and school experiences.

Yes. Many people think that collecting and analyzing data that identifies people on the basis of race, disability, sexual orientation, and other Ontario Human Rights Code (the ‘Code’) grounds is not allowed. But collecting data on Code grounds for a Code-consistent purpose is permitted and is in accordance with Canada’s human rights legislative framework, including the Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, the federal Employment Equity Act and section 15(2) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The BHNCDSB Student Survey is being offered online. Students and families who require a print copy will be able to request one in February 2025.

The BHNCDSB Student Survey is confidential. We respect the privacy of our students and families.

Data will be collected and stored in a secure manner in accordance with our BHNCDSB’s data management plan, in compliance with Board policies, and privacy legislation including MFIPPA. Data will be stored on secure BHNCDSB internal servers and will only be accessed by the authorized Research Team for data analysis.

Responses will be grouped together for data analysis so that no individual student information is ever identifiable. Only group summary results will be shared. By law, BHNCDSB cannot reveal individualized information for any student/parent or guardian who completes the survey.

A Privacy Impact Assessment was conducted by a third-party company to confirm processes and systems are compliant with privacy legislation.

BHNCDSB staff are available to answer any questions students and families may have. The Board Research Associate can be contacted at studentsurvey@bhncdsb.ca.  

Students will be provided with necessary accommodations such as supportive and assistive technology to support them in completing the BHNCDSB Student Survey. All necessary accommodations, supports and assistive technology will be provided to students as they would regularly at school to ensure that every student can participate in the survey.

A series of reports will be created to help inform Board and school decision-making regarding programs and policies. A summary of the results will be shared with our community.