“Our office has received complaints from across the province about children, including those with disabilities, being excluded from school with little or no instruction,” said B.C. ombudsperson Jay Chalke.
B.C.’s ombudsperson has launched an investigation into whether some students — including those with disabilities — are being excluded from school and left behind.
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Jay Chalke, B.C.’s Ombudsperson, announced Tuesday his office had launched an investigation into the exclusion of students across the province’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 system. Parents and families are also being invited to share their thoughts as part of the probe.
“Our office has received complaints from across the province about children, including those with disabilities, being excluded from school with little or no instruction,” said Chalke.
“We will examine the extent to which K-12 students are being excluded from schools across the province and whether those exclusions are fair,” said Chalke in a statement, noting the investigation would review the education ministry’s and the school districts’ role in the exclusions.
The complaints vary but include some reports that students were being excluded “due to disruptive or unsafe behaviour, or inadequate resources devoted to adequately support the student’s learning the school.” Some complaints indicated that students were being “informally excluded” from school entirely or for large parts of an instructional day.
Chalke said he was concerned about student outcomes and their limited ability to report exclusionary treatment.
“By examining this issue we can make recommendations to support the ministry and school districts in meeting their inclusive education commitments and obligations to all students,” said Chalke.
The questionnaire is open until April 1, 2025.
Postmedia has reached out to Chalke’s office for a timeline of how long the investigation will take and the scope of the probe. Requests for comment have also been sent to Vancouver and Surrey teachers’ associations and district parent advisory councils.