Ministry of Education

Ministère de l’Éducation

Safe Schools and Student Well-Being
Branch

Direction de la sécurité dans les
écoles et du bien-être des élèves

15th Floor, Mowat Block
Queen’s Park
Toronto ON M7A 1L2
Telephone (416) 325-7645
Facsimile (416) 325-2664

15e étage, édifice Mowat
Queen’s Park
Toronto ON M7A 1L2
Téléphone 416 325-7645
Télécopieur 416 325-2664

MEMORANDUM TO:

Directors of Education
District School Boards

FROM:

Eileen Silver
Director (A)
Safe Schools and Student Well-Being Branch

DATE:

April 12, 2016

SUBJECT:

Violent Incidents Data

________________________________________________________________________
Attached for your review is a three year summary of Violent Incidents in all Boards. In
2011-12, school boards began annual reporting on the total number of violent incidents to
the ministry, per Policy/Program Memorandum 120: Reporting Violent Incidents to the
Ministry (P/PM 120). In addition to an updated definition, P/PM 120 included a requirement
for boards to collect and analyse data about the nature of these violent incidents in order to
support the development of board policies and to better inform board and school
improvement plans.
The term violent incident is defined as the occurrence of any one of the following, or the
occurrence of a combination of any of the following:
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possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm
physical assault causing bodily harm requiring medical attention
sexual assault
robbery
using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person
extortion
hate and/or bias-motivated occurrences.

The ministry has received data from school boards for the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14
school years and some boards were contacted by ministry staff to discuss what appeared
to be ‘higher than the norm’ violent incident numbers.
Earlier this year the data for 2011-12 and 2012-13 was released to the media through a
Freedom of Information request. Subsequently, some questions were raised concerning the
consistency and accuracy of the data.

…/2

 As with any new data/reporting initiative, it is important that we work together to ensure
accurate data and clarify collection guidelines. To this end, please find attached the violent
incident data reported by boards for the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years. We
ask that you please reply to safeschools@ontario.ca after reviewing your board’s data,
identify any issues and use the accompanying report template to provide accurate data for
all school years by May 13, 2016.
Thank you for your continued efforts as we work together to promote a safe and accepting
school climate where all students have the opportunity to succeed.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
_________________________________
Eileen Silver
c.c.

Regional Offices
District School Board Safe Schools Supervisory Officers
Attachments