Navigating the School System for Black Student Success
This is a series of information sheets designed to support your involvement as a parent/guardian in the education of your Black child in Ontario — from junior kindergarten all the way to graduation from Grade 12. Many other resources are available from community organizations, your child’s school, the school board, and the Ontario Ministry of Education. We encourage you to use these information sheets as a starting point for becoming involved in your child’s education and to seek out all the resources available to you.
As the parent/guardian of a Black child, you’re the most important person in your child’s life: you’re their strongest advocate and can help ensure they have access to all the opportunities open to them. In this role, you also need to know what is happening with your child so that issues can be addressed as early as possible. That means ensuring that things like mental health issues, learning disabilities, or even stereotypes and prejudice do not derail your child’s education.
All parents need to be involved in their children’s education until they graduate from high school. You are your child’s first teacher and will continue to be for the rest of their lives. Your interest and engagement in your child’s schooling directly impacts the education they receive and their success.
Because anti-Black racism is prevalent in Canadian society, including within Ontario’s education system, it is even more crucial that parents and guardians of Black children be involved in their children’s education. Parents and guardians of Black children in Canada need to understand that their children will face challenges that have nothing to do with their abilities. Many studies show that Black students experience racism and unequal treatment even early in their schooling, which affects their success in school and their well-being.
You may also receive a Student Census from your school to complete. This survey asks questions about each student’s background, including race and ethnicity. It is important to complete the Student Census as it allows the school board to know how Black students as a group are doing in relation to other students, and implement strategies to address any gaps. You can also ask for the results of the Student Census and participate in any strategies to address the identified issues.
Before we look at our individual sheets take an overview of what we are trying to accomplish.
Journey To Post Post-Secondary Education Secondary Education
The Early Years – Jr. Kindergarten to 3rd Grade
Junior kindergarten is the beginning of your child’s formal education. It sets the foundation for their future success by opening doors to various post-secondary options and career opportunities.
In Grades 1 and 2, children continue to develop important literacy and numeracy skills through reading, writing, and arithmetic. In a way, playtime is over, and the serious business of learning begins. In these grades, children are moving from play-based learning to a more structured learning environment, which demands more of their focus and attention.
Grade 3 is a critical period in your child’s education. Studies show that your child’s ability to read well in Grade 3 is connected to the likelihood that they will graduate from high school. The more exposed your child is to the habit of reading, writing, or doing math, the more developed their skills will be. You can help them by setting aside just a half-hour each day for reading. If the books at school don’t interest your child, visit your local library to find books that do engage them. Keep in mind that reading physical books is better than reading on a tablet or computer. Encouraging your child to read stories about Black history and achievements helps them see that people who look like them can be successful, further developing positive racial identity and also their reading skills and their vocabulary.
The Upper Elementary
By Grades 4 and 5, your child is no longer a baby (or so they think; they will always be your baby). They are beginning to incorporate what they have learned at school into how they think. If they haven’t already, your child will begin expressing their own ideas which might question you and their teacher. While it may be challenging, this is a good thing and should be encouraged.
Your child is about to begin a very serious part of their education. There will be a faster pace of teaching and a higher demand for reading, writing, and math skills, with an expansion into social studies and science. A good grounding in Grade 3, supported by at-home practice, will help them meet the increasing demands and expectations at school.
Your attention to their progress and ability to provide homework support is important. You should not only be making sure homework gets done, and done well, but should also help your child to work through problems. If you are unable to help with homework, find someone who can such as a neighbor, friend, or tutor.
At this stage, homework requires more research, improved writing skills, and the ability to organize thoughts in a coherent or logical way. The same can be said about math, where your child will be required to work on a problem using practiced steps to arrive at an answer.
Middle School
These middle school years are critical in shaping your child’s future, as they will set the stage for success in high school, post-secondary studies, and the labor market. The work and the workload will get tougher, and your child must develop the study skills needed to do their best.
Grades 6-8
In Grade 6 all students across Ontario get tested for reading, writing, and math. Get support for your child if they show signs of test anxiety. In the fall of the next school year, each student will receive their test results. If the results show that your child does not meet the provincial standard, seek out supports that are available at the school or through community agencies.
If you have been engaged in your child’s education, you probably have an idea of the subjects your child is good in, what they are interested in, their study habits, and the potential career paths in which they are showing an interest. This is a time to be thinking about your child’s career options, keeping in mind that these may change as your child explores the many possibilities.
Your child may have already decided on a career path—carpenter, mechanic, lawyer, doctor, teacher, engineer. But even if they haven’t, try to be open and begin exploring careers that may be of interest. If they have their sights set on a specific career, expose them to information about the profession and people who work in that field. For example, if they’re interested in becoming a lawyer, take them to a court to observe a proceeding or find a lawyer in the community who is willing to speak with them. This is also a good time to do some research about the educational requirements of these careers to understand what courses they will need to take in high school. Regardless of their interest, be sure to expose them to a number of related and unrelated possibilities.
Keep in mind that university isn’t always the right option for all children. In the current economy, a university degree does not guarantee a well-paying job. In fact, many students are choosing college after graduating from high school because college offers programs with more hands-on experience and instruction from experts who work in the field. Explore all options that are of interest to your child.
Your child is now beginning high school. The child that you have nurtured and protected all their life is entering a stage that fuels their independence–making decisions about their life, career, and relationships at school and outside of school. You are not letting go, but you are recognizing that they have grown up. They may not think they need you anymore, but they still require the love, guidance, and support of a parent/guardian.
High School
Grade 9 is an important year. It is the first year of high school and sets the stage for success in high school and post-secondary education.
In Grade 9 all students across Ontario get tested for the math skills they are expected to have at this grade. Get support for your child if they show signs of test anxiety. In the fall of the next school year, each student will receive their test results. If the results show that your child does not meet the provincial standard, seek out supports that are available at the school or through community agencies.
If possible, find a mentor for your teenager. A mentor who is working can offer career advice, set up an internship, help your child get a summer job, provide different perspective on issues, and help teenagers build self-confidence. A college or university mentor can also help your child improve their study habits to prepare for post-secondary education. A mentor can’t replace a parent’s guidance, but a mentor can serve as another advocate for teens during these important high school years.
These are critical years in your child’s education (Grades 10-11). What happens in these years will determine whether your child will graduate on time and whether they can go on to post-secondary education.
In Grade 10 all students across Ontario receive a literacy test to measure whether they are meeting the minimum standard for literacy. Successful completion of the literacy test is one of the requirements to graduate from high school. Get support for your child if they show signs of test anxiety. In the fall of the next school year, each student will receive their test results. If the results show that your child does not meet the provincial standard, seek out supports that are available at the school or through community agencies.
As your child settles into the high school experience, it’s a great time to explore career options and set plans for post-secondary education. If you haven’t already done so, begin to have conversations with your child about their career aspirations. Meet with a teacher, the principal, or the guidance counselor to find out what high school courses are needed to get into these programs. It’s also not too early to begin to visit college and university campuses or to attend the Ontario Universities’ Fair.
It is critical that you are speaking with your child each day and checking in regularly with their teachers to make sure they’re staying on top of homework and understand what is required of them. Find out early whether your child is not on track to graduate. Speak with the guidance counsellor about credit recovery options if necessary.
If possible, find a mentor for your teenager. A mentor who is working can offer career advice, set up an internship, help your child get a summer job, provide different perspective on issues, and help teenagers build self-confidence. A college or university mentor can also help your child improve their study habits to prepare for post-secondary education. A mentor can’t replace a parent’s guidance, but a mentor can serve as another advocate for teens during these important high school years.
Grade 12 – This is it! Your dedication to your child throughout their school years has helped them reach an important milestone—Grade 12. Crossing this bridge means the next step is university, college, or the workforce.
While this milestone is significant, all your hard work and guidance doesn’t stop here. There is still plenty of work to be done. You have to ensure that your child feels able to meet the challenges of this year to graduate. Can they improve on their Grade 11 marks? The better the marks in grade 12, the higher the possibility of getting a scholarship and a place at your child’s post-secondary program of their choice.
You also need to support your child to select a college or university and a program of study.
If possible, find a mentor for your teenager. A mentor who is working can offer career advice, set up an internship, help your child get a summer job, provide different perspective on issues, and help teenagers build self-confidence. A college or university mentor can also help your child improve their study habits to prepare for post-secondary education. A mentor can’t replace a parent’s guidance, but a mentor can serve as another advocate for teens during these important high school years.