Framework for Action

Grand Erie’s work to address anti-Black racism focuses on five interconnected areas that shape the experiences of Black students in classrooms and schools. Addressing anti-Black racism requires shared responsibility across the education system. Educators, school leaders, system staff, students, families, and community partners all play a role in creating learning environments where Black students feel safe, valued, and able to thrive.

The five areas of significance outlined below are advanced through everyday practice, school leadership, and system support across Grand Erie.

Young black student in classroom sitting at desk writing in notebook

Areas of Significance

1. Identity, Belonging & Representation

Black students see their identities reflected in classrooms and school environments and, through an intersectional approach, experience a strong sense of belonging, respect, and celebration in all aspects of school life.

2. Inclusive Teaching & Learning

Teaching and learning reflect culturally responsive and sustaining practices that affirm Black identities, represent diverse histories and perspectives, and support high expectations and meaningful engagement for all learners.

3. Safe & Responsive School Environment

Schools actively address racism, discrimination, and harmful language while fostering environments that support student safety, dignity, mental health, and well-being through restorative and responsive approaches.

4. Student Voice & Leadership

Black students have meaningful opportunities to share their perspectives, influence school culture, and contribute to inclusive learning communities.

5. Family & Community Partnerships

Schools strengthen relationships with Black families and communities through respectful engagement, collaboration, and shared efforts to support student success and well-being.

Grand Erie Strategies in Action

The strategies below identify key expectations for everyday practice, school leadership, and system support. They describe the conditions that help ensure Black students experience belonging, safety, and meaningful learning across Grand Erie schools.

“The knowledge children bring to school, derived from personal and cultural experiences, is central to their learning. To overlook this resource is to deny children access to the knowledge construction process” – Villegas & Lucas, 2020, p.25

1. Identity, Belonging & Representation

Everyday Practice

Build respectful relationships with Black students
Ensure classroom spaces reflect diverse Black identities, cultures and experiences.
Recognize student strengths and identities when planning supports

School Leadership & Culture

Create school environments where Black identities and experiences are visible and valued
Support affinity spaces or identity-affirming opportunities when requested
Monitor patterns of exclusion and address barriers to belonging

System Support & Direction

Provide guidance and resources that strengthen identity-affirming school environments
Support schools in promoting belonging and representation across the system

2. Inclusive Teaching & Learning

Everyday Practice

Use culturally relevant responsive and sustaining teaching practices
Integrate Black histories, perspectives and contributions into learning

School Leadership & Culture

Promote collaborative professional learning focused on inclusive and responsive instruction
Support educators in integrating culturally relevant responsive and sustaining practices across classrooms
Examine patterns of participation, discipline and representation to support equitable learning environments

System Support & Direction

Provide ongoing professional learning in anti-Black racism and culturally relevant responsive and sustaining pedagogy (CRRSP)
Support access to inclusive curriculum resources

3. Safe & Responsive School Environments

Everyday Practice

Address racism, discrimination, and harmful language when they occur

School Leadership & Culture

Ensure incidents of racism or discrimination are addressed consistently and appropriately
Monitor behaviour and discipline practices to ensure fairness and equity
Use restorative practices that support dignity and repair harm

System Support & Direction

Provide guidance and support for equitable school climate practices
Monitor system data and support schools in addressing disparities

4. Student Voice & Leadership

Everyday Practice

Create opportunities for students to feel seen and empowered to contribute to the learning environment by sharing perspectives, and identity with pride.
Encourage student leadership and agency

School Leadership & Culture

Support student leadership opportunities that elevate Black student voice and leadership
Facilitate dialogue about identity, belonging, and inclusion within the school community

System Support & Direction

Intentionally center student voice in decision-making, planning, and school improvement process.
Engage in ongoing learning and reflection to better respond to students lived experiences equity and belonging
Model listening with openness and act on what students share
Create and sustain learning spaces that strengthen student leadership, prioritize equity, representation, and respectful dialogue

5. Family & Community Partnerships

Everyday Practice

Communicate with families in welcoming and culturally responsive ways
Value family perspectives and experiences

School Leadership & Culture

Create opportunities for families to engage with the school community and share feedback
Build partnerships that support student well-being and success

System Support & Direction

Strengthen partnerships with community organizations and families
Support engagement that reflects the experiences and priorities of Black communities

Supporting Black Student Success: Everyday Classroom Practices

The examples below illustrate how educators can translate the strategy into everyday classroom practice and support identity-affirming learning environments where Black students feel valued, safe, and able to thrive.

These examples are not intended to prescribe specific lessons or approaches. Additional resources and guidance will continue to be developed through curriculum and professional learning supports.

1. Identity, Belonging & Representation

Everyday Practices

Learn about students’ identities and strengths
Ensure classroom materials reflect diverse Black identities and ways of knowing
Celebrate Black histories and contributions throughout the year

Elementary

Teachers may incorporate books by Black authors, highlight diverse historical figures, and ensure classroom visuals reflect a range of identities and cultures

Secondary

Teachers may integrate Black perspectives into subject areas such as literature, history, science, and the arts while facilitating discussions about identity and representation

2. Inclusive Teaching & Learning

Everyday Practices

Integrate Black histories and perspectives into curriculum
Encourage multiple ways for students to demonstrate learning
Maintain high expectations and encourage student participation

Elementary

Students may explore Black changemakers through inquiry projects, storytelling, and collaborative learning activities connected to community experiences

Secondary

Students may examine historical and contemporary issues through multiple perspectives, including Black scholars, writers, and community voices

3. Safe & Responsive School Environments

Everyday Practices

Interrupt harmful language or stereotypes
Use restorative approaches to address harm
Foster classroom routines that support trust and belonging

Elementary

Teachers may guide students in discussions about respectful language and support restorative conversations when harm occurs

Secondary

Educators may facilitate discussions about identity, bias, and current events while supporting restorative approaches to resolve conflict

4. Student Voice & Leadership

Everyday Practices

Create opportunities for students to share perspectives
Encourage leadership and agency

Elementary

Students may share ideas through classroom discussions, storytelling, or collaborative projects highlighting diverse perspectives

Secondary

Students may participate in leadership initiatives, student groups, or classroom discussions exploring identity, belonging, and equity

5. Family & Community Partnerships

Everyday Practices

Communicate with families in welcoming and culturally responsive ways
Value family knowledge and perspectives Connect learning to community experiences

Elementary

Teachers may invite families to share cultural knowledge, experiences, or stories that enrich classroom learning

Secondary

Educators may connect classroom learning with community perspectives, mentorship opportunities, or local partnerships

System Commitments

Grand Erie will strengthen the system conditions that support Black student success through leadership, professional learning, policy and accountability measures.

1. Leadership & Representation

Strengthen recruitment, retention, mentorship, and advancement opportunities for Black educators and leaders
Support leadership pathways that reflect the diversity of the student population
Ensure system leaders communicate clear expectations for addressing anti-Black racism and advancing equity-focused practice

2. Student Responsibilities & Commitments

Students play a vital role in creating a learning environment where Black students feel respected, safe, and valued. To support a school culture free from anti-Black racism, students are expected to:

Use inclusive and respectful language that affirms the identities and lived experiences of all students and avoids stereotypes, slurs, or harmful language
Speak up or report incidents of anti-Black racism to a trusted adult, recognizing that taking action helps protect the dignity, safety, and well-being of peers
Support classmates who experience racism by listening, showing empathy, and helping them access adult support when needed
Engage in learning about Black history, identity, and contributions as part of understanding out diverse school community and challenging misinformation or bias
Reflect on personal biases and behaviours and demonstrate a willingness to change actions that may cause harm, even unintentionally
Contribute to inclusive classroom and school environments by welcoming and including peers in learning, social spaces, and groups activities
Demonstrate responsible digital citizenship by avoiding, interrupting, and reporting racist or harmful online behaviour
Participate in solutions that promote equity and belonging, such as sharing student voice, joining equity initiatives, or contributing ideas that help make the school more inclusive

3. Professional Learning & Capacity Building

Provide ongoing learning on anti-Black racism, culturally relevant responsive and sustaining pedagogy (CRRSP), human rights, and inclusive instruction
Align professional learning with system priorities, including restorative practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Offer coaching, mentorship, and opportunities for collaborative inquiry
Build staff confidence in addressing identity, bias, race, and incidents of harmful language
Support educators in using identity-based data to inform planning

4. Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusive Policies and Practice

Review and update equity and inclusive education policies regularly
Maintain clear processes for reporting, tracking, and responding to discrimination or hate
Ensure policies and guidelines reflect identity-affirming language and CRRSP
Support administrators in applying equitable and inclusive approaches to discipline and student support

5. Data Collection, Monitoring, and Accountability

Analyze climate, discipline, engagement and achievement data to understand the experiences of Black students
Identify disparities and trends to inform actions at school and system levels
Report progress annually to Trustees and the broader community
Ensure data collection aligns with Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards and Ontario Human Rights Commission expectations
Use data to guide improvement rather than reinforce deficit-based narratives

6. Partnerships with Families and Community

Engage families through respectful and culturally responsive communication
Partner with community organizations that support identity, mentorship, and student success
Collaborate with regional and provincial partners to align learning and resources
Engage Black families and community partners in planning, decision-making, and identifying system priorities

7. Equitable Pathways and Secondary Success

Maintain targeted supports such as the Graduation Coach program
Strengthen guidance and pathway planning using culturally responsive approaches
Support successful transitions from elementary to secondary and from secondary to post-secondary pathways
Collaborate with schools to provide accessible academic and well-being supports

Measuring Progress and Impact

Monitoring progress ensures this strategy leads to meaningful improvements in the experiences and outcomes of Black students. These indicators reflect five areas of action that guide the strategy and support accountability, reflection, and continuous improvement.

1. Identity, Belonging & Representation

Increased reports of belonging, safety, acceptance, and respect in school climate data
Greater visibility of Black identities, histories, and contributions in classrooms and school environments
Positive feedback from students and families about representation and school culture
Evidence of identity-affirming environments across classrooms and schools

2. Inclusive Teaching & Learning

Increased use of culturally relevant responsive and sustaining pedagogy (CRRSP)
Curriculum and learning resources that reflect Black identities, histories, and contributions
Equitable participation of Black students in enriched programs and learning opportunities
Student voice indicating greater engagement and connection to classroom learning

3. Safe & Responsive School Environment

Reduced incidents of racial bullying, harmful language, and discrimination
Reduced disproportionate discipline involving Black students
Increased use of restorative and strength-based approaches to address harm
Evidence that students have trusted adults and supportive relationships at school

4. Student Voice & Leadership

Expanded opportunities for Black students to share voice and perspectives
Increased participation in leadership opportunities and student initiatives
Evidence that student perspectives inform school practices and improvement planning

5. Family & Community Partnerships

Increased engagement with Black families and caregivers
Positive feedback from families regarding communication and relationships with schools
Partnerships with community organizations that support identity, mentorship, and student success

6. Board-Level Monitoring and Reporting

Analysis of identity-based climate, engagement, and achievement data
Monitoring of discipline patterns and school responses
Review of school improvement planning related to equity and belonging
Annual updates to trustees and community partners

7. Using Identity-Based Data Responsibly

Identity-based data will inform targeted interventions and support long-term system improvement
Ensuring ethical and secure data collection
Clear communication with students, families, and staff about how identity-based data is used
Protecting individual and community privacy
Using data to guide improvement, not deficit-based narratives
Engaging communities in interpreting findings and identifying next steps

Implementation and Review

This strategy provides a coordinated framework for strengthening belonging, learning, and well-being for Black students across Grand Erie. Implementation will focus on clarity, collaboration, and consistent practice across schools and departments.

Implementation in Schools and Across the System

Implementation will focus on manageable priorities and ongoing reflection. Schools and system teams will:

Prioritize a small number of high-impact actions each year
Integrate selected actions into school improvement planning
Align actions with student data, feedback, and local context
Build staff confidence through professional learning, coaching, and collaborative inquiry
Review progress and adjust actions based on evidence and student experience

System Support

Grand Erie will support schools through coordinated structures and ongoing learning opportunities, including:

Professional learning in anti-Black racism, CRRSP, inclusive instruction, and restorative approaches
Access to identity-affirming classroom and school resources
Coaching, mentorship, and consultation through central staff
Guidance from Human Rights and Equity teams
Access to identity-based data to support planning and reflection
Collaboration with community partners and culturally responsive organizations

Review and Continuous Support

To ensure accountability and responsiveness, Grand Erie will review progress regularly through:

Analysis of climate, discipline, engagement, and achievement data
Reflection on school improvement planning and system initiatives
Identification of areas requiring additional support or alignment
Updates shared with Trustees and community partners

A comprehensive review of the strategy will occur every three years to assess impact, update priorities, and respond to emerging research and community feedback.