Error left racialized, disabled and 2SLGBTQIA+ students out of lottery for alternative school spots: TDSB

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) confirmed on Wednesday that racialized, disabled and 2SLGBTQIA+ students were not included in a random selection process for availability at 17 elementary alternative schools due to an error by a “third-party vendor.”

“Due to an oversight by the third-party vendor, the prioritized students remaining on the waitlist (after 25 per cent of seats at all schools were filled from this group) were not included in the final step of the random selection process,” the TDSB said in a release.

“This was discovered when staff reviewed data and results from the random selection process.”

Despite the oversight, which the TDSB acknowledges has “directly impacted students,” the board stresses that it met its goals when it comes to prioritized students.

The TDSB say its Elementary Alternative Schools Central Application Process concluded on Tuesday, March 28, with 1285 applications for 458 available seats at the 17 alternative schools.

“The TDSB prioritized access for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, and applicants with siblings at the school. All students in these groups received seats,” it said.

“Twenty-five per cent of spaces were then allocated for students from historically and currently under-represented communities (Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latinx, 2SLGBTQIA+, and students with disabilities). The goal of 25 per cent representation of these prioritized students was also reached.”

But the error meant students from those groups weren’t given a chance when the computerized random selection process for the remaining spots took place.

“We are taking immediate steps to address the issue and to offer additional seats where possible,” the TDSB said, adding that it was taking the following steps:

  • Reviewing and identifying all available spaces by grade and program
  • Adding additional seats, where possible, with current teacher allocations
  • Identifying the number of seats for applicants from under-represented communities not yet placed in an available space
  • Prioritizing and placing applicants for these seats using their current waitlist placement

“The TDSB is committed to improving representation among students in elementary alternative schools that reflect the diversity of the Board and the City,” the board added.

“With that goal in mind, this was the first year that the application process for elementary alternative schools was a centralized, online process. In the past, this process was managed by individual schools.”

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