Data shows racialized students suspended at higher rate. HWDSB looks at translating resources as way to help

Hamilton's public school board will look into how feasible it is to translate student suspension data into the top 10 non-English languages spoken locally by families and to offer translated resources about the suspension and expulsion process.

The idea, put forward by trustees during a Monday evening board meeting, is one of several ways the board is looking at addressing suspensions, especially the fact some groups of students are disproportionately affected.

Data released earlier this month from Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) showed Arabic-speaking students, Black students and Indigenous students are suspended at a higher rate than the average rate among students.

"We've seen in the data [that language barriers] cause families and students to struggle during their suspension and even puts students at higher risk of suspension," said student trustee Aisha Mahmoud, who introduced the motion on Monday.

"This is a very clear step forward."

Other student groups with disproportionate suspension rates include boys, bisexual students and students with certain disabilities.

"When schools suspend students disproportionately, it shows that systems (like education systems) disadvantage some groups of students and advantage others," reads the report with the data.

"HWDSB has a lot of work to do."

Suspensions on the rise, data shows

School board staff will report back in September.

The suspension data follows data that shows a gap between the number of racialized students and teachers that reflect the same group. A student census released last June that showed 38 per cent of students identify as people of colour while only 12.5 per cent of teachers identify the same way.

HWDSB's report released Monday listed some initiatives to address suspension issues, including learning sessions for principals, vice principals and management, and Indigenous education and cultural safety programs.

HWDSB originally released suspension data in March showing there were 3,902 students suspended and 46 expelled last school year.

It also showed that suspensions and expulsions for bullying, hate, serious assaults, sexual assaults and weapons are on the rise.

The new breakdown of data that included identity groups came at the request of trustees.

Apologies being issued after wrongful suspensions

Besides identity groups, the data also broke down suspensions by grade.

It showed there were 38 suspensions between kindergarten and Grade 3 that violated provincial policy.

The report states the suspensions will be expunged and an apology letter will be offered to families by the end of June 2023.

HWDSB Director Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini said on Monday there will also be monthly reviews to ensure the wrongful suspensions don't occur again.

She said the letters to families could also be translated into other languages if needed.