In Ontario, students can face suspensions of up to 20 school days for various infractions, including non-compliance with provincial regulations. A recent example involves students with outdated vaccination records. Provincial legislation mandates that all elementary and secondary school students be vaccinated against specific diseases, such as diphtheria, polio, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and meningitis, unless they have a valid exemption. Failure to comply can result in suspensions of up to 20 days. For instance, in Waterloo Region, 1,428 high school students were recently suspended due to out-of-date vaccination records.
According to the Ontario government’s guidelines, students suspended for more than five school days must be offered academic programs to help them continue their education. For suspensions lasting 11 to 20 days, the program must include both academic and non-academic components, such as counseling or life skills coaching, to promote positive behavior.
If your child is facing suspension, it’s essential to contact your school’s administration promptly to understand the specific reasons and to discuss the available support programs to ensure your child’s educational progress during the suspension period.
