TDSB Board Code of Conduct

The following are excerpts from the TDSB Operational Procedure PR585: Board Code of Conduct.  


Section 6.2: Practices - Standards of Behaviour


(a) Respect, Civility, and Responsible Citizenship 

Under the Provincial Code of Conduct, all members of the school community must:

  • respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws; 
  • comply with all Ministry of Education, school board and school policies; 
  • demonstrate honesty and integrity; 
  • respect differences in people, their ideas, and their opinions; 
  • treat one another with dignity and respect at all times, both in person and online, and especially when there is disagreement or difference; 
  • respect and treat others fairly and promote a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting of all pupils, including of any race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability; 
  • respect the rights of others; 
  • refrain from using abusive language or swearing at another person; 
  • show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others; 
  • take appropriate measures to help those in need; 
  • seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully; 
  • respect all members of the school community, especially persons in positions of authority; 
  • respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching, not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except during the following circumstances: 
    • for education purposes, as directed by an educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff) 
    • for health and medical purposes 
    • to support special education needs 

(b) Safety 

Under the Provincial Code of Conduct, all members of the school community must not:

  • engage in bullying behaviours including cyberbullying; 
  • commit sexual assault or sexual harassment; 
  • traffic in weapons or illegal drugs; 
  • commit robbery or theft; 
  • be in possession of any weapon, including firearms; 
  • threaten or intimidate another person; 
  • be in possession of alcohol, cannabis, and/or illegal drugs;
    • for students, this would also include being in possession of electronic cigarette, tobacco and nicotine products.
  • use, or be under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarette’s, cannabis and related products (unless the individual has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes), and illegal drugs; 
  • provide others with alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarette’s, illegal drugs, cannabis and related products (unless the recipient is an individual who has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes); 
  • inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person; 
  • engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias;
  • commit an act of vandalism that causes damage to school property, to property located on the premises of the school or to the property of a member of the school community. 

(c) Enforcement Relating to Alcohol, Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes, Recreational Cannabis and Related Products and Illegal Drugs

  • The TDSB will consider the possession, use, and providing of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine products, recreational cannabis, alcohol and illegal drugs to be a breach of the Code of Conduct and the Restrictions on Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use Policy (P095), and will address and enforce these behaviours as outlined in PPM 145: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour and the Promoting Positive School Climate (PR697). 
  • The TDSB will follow the direction in Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol and the Police School Board Protocol (PR698) regarding mandatory and discretionary notification of incidents to the police. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 prohibits smoking (tobacco and cannabis) and the use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) at schools, on school grounds, and all public areas within 20 metres of these grounds (unless the recipient is an individual who has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes) and subject to special considerations under the Restrictions on Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use Policy (P095). Anyone smoking or vaping on school property is guilty of an offence and if convicted may result in a fine under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 also prohibits the sale and supply of tobacco or ecigarettes to anyone under 19 years of age. Anyone who sells or supplies tobacco or an e-cigarette to a student under 19 years of age is guilty of an offence and if convicted may result in a fine under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.At minimum, in the case of these substances being found in the possession of students, parents/caregivers/guardians must be notified, and the student must surrender the item(s) to the educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff). As per PPM 145, it is expected that students involved in these incidents would receive support to learn from inappropriate behaviours and make choices that support continuing their learning. 
  • For guidance and directions on how surrendered items, including personal mobile devices, will be handled in compliance with applicable provincial Policy and legislation (i.e., Education Act and the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017), please refer to the Promoting Positive School Climate Procedure (PR697).

(d) Restrictions to Personal Mobile Device Use

  • All members of the school community must not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except under the following circumstances:
    • for educational purposes, as directed by an educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff); 
    • for health and medical purposes; 
    • to support special education needs
  • For students in grade 6 and below, at minimum the local policy must require that students’ personal mobile devices are stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff) under the circumstances outlined above. 
    • If an educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff) sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional day and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location designated by the principal. 
  • Grades 7 to 12 TDSB students’ personal mobile devices are to be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff) under the circumstances outlined above. 
    • If the educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff) sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they will require the device be handed in for the instructional period and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location in the classroom designated by the educator and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, VicePrincipals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff). 
  • As per Ministry of Education directions under PPM 128, “the student is responsible for their personal mobile device, how they use it and the consequences of not following the Board’s Code of Conduct on personal mobile device use”.
  • If the student does not hand in their personal mobile device when required, they must be sent to the Principal’s office. Principals have discretion under PPM No. 145, Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour and the Promoting Positive School Climate Procedure (PR697) to consider a range of responses to address this behaviour up to and including suspension. 
  • To support the implementation of the above, local schools must send an annual notification to parents/guardians/caregivers and students reminding them of the Code of Conduct, its requirements and consequences for non-compliance. Please refer to the Promoting Positive School Climate Procedure (PR697) for further details. 


Section 6.3 Expectations


(a) Principals 

Principals have a duty to maintain proper order and discipline within the school. As part of their responsibility, principals, in consultation with their Caring and Safe Schools Team, will develop school codes of conduct for their schools. School codes of conduct must be consistent with the Board Code of Conduct. 

Under the provisions of the Education Act, principals have the authority to suspend students and to refer expulsions to a Discipline Committee of the Board (PR697). 

Principals will take a leadership role in the daily operation of the school by

  • demonstrating care for the school community and a commitment to student achievement and well-being in a safe, inclusive, and accepting learning environment
  • holding everyone under their authority accountable for their own behaviour and actions;
  • empowering students to be positive leaders in their school and community; 
  • communicating regularly and meaningfully with all members of their school community; and
  • model the standards of respect, civility and responsible citizenship 

(b) Teachers and Support Staff Members 

Under the leadership of their principals, teachers and other school staff, members are to maintain a positive learning environment and are expected to hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour. As role models, teachers and support staff will uphold these high standards when they:

  • help students work to their full potential and develop their sense of self-worth;
  • empower students to be positive leaders in their classroom, school, and community;
  • communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents/guardians/caregivers;
  • maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students;
  • demonstrate respect for one another, all students, staff, parents/guardians/caregivers, volunteers, and other members of the school community;
  • prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship, in particular the skill of respectful communication, both in person and online;
  • model the standards of respect, civility, and responsible citizenship. This includes modeling appropriate use of personal mobile devices. Educators and/or school staff (e.g., Principals, Vice-Principals, Child Youth Worker, Early Childhood Worker, Professional Support Services Staff) are not to use personal mobile devices during instructional time, unless explicitly for work- related purposes.
  • Teachers and support staff will also assist principals in maintaining close co-operation with the school community and in establishing and maintaining consistent disciplinary practices in the school. In addition, teachers and support staff will assist the principals by reporting incidents that may lead to a suspension, by responding to all incidents and when necessary, assisting the principal in conducting investigations. 

(c) Students 

Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return, they will demonstrate respect for themselves, for others, and for the responsibilities of citizenship. It is expected that students:

  • come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn;
  • show respect for themselves, for others, and for those in authority;
  • refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others;
  • follow the established rules and taking responsibility for their own actions. 

Students will also:

  • exercise self-discipline;
  • accept such discipline as would be exercised by a kind, firm and judicious parent/guardian/caregiver; 
  • be courteous to fellow pupils and obedient and courteous of teachers;
  • show respect for school property;
  • understand and comply with their school’s and /or Board’s code of conduct. 

(d) Parents/Guardians/Caregivers 

Parents play an important role in the education of their children and can support the efforts of school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. It is expected that parents/guardians/caregivers:

  • are engaged in their child’s schoolwork and progress;
  • communicate regularly with the school; 
  • help their child to be appropriately dressed and prepared for school;
  • ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time;
  • promptly report to the school their child’s absence or late arrival; 
  • become familiar with the Provincial Code of Conduct, and if applicable, the schools Code of Conduct
  • encourage and assist their child in following the rules of behaviour; 
  • assist school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child.