Exclusions
OVERVIEW
This is the 1st of 4 videos in our short series on Exclusions, in collaboration with ARCH Disability Law Centre.
This video introduces what exclusions are and how they show up in school experiences for students with disabilities.
You will learn:
how exclusions differ from suspensions or expulsions
the different ways they can happen (including informal ones)
why they are often used in response to disability-related needs
who is most affected
how exclusions can limit meaningful access to education.
You can find the transcription for this video here (including visual descriptions for the video).
Refer to our glossary if you’re having trouble understanding any of the terms in this series.
What is an exclusion?
An exclusion is a removal of a student or non-student from school grounds, and the individual excluded cannot return until the exclusion has ended.
A principal has the power to exclude a student under s. 265(1)(m) of the Education Act, when they feel that the presence of a student will physically or mentally harm others at the school. There are also informal or partial exclusions not related to s.265(1)(m), such as requesting that a student stay home for the day due to a staffing shortage.
When do exclusions occur?
Even though exclusions are not to be used for discipline, exclusions occur most often after an “incident” that is directly related to a student’s disability.