The Board has several advisory committees which focus on specific mandates, subjects or issues important to the Board and the community. The advisory committees aim to provide advice, recommendations, and support to the Board. You can learn more about advisory and other committees on the OCDSB website.

The OCDSB's Strategic Plan and Indigenous, Human Rights and Equity Roadmap highlight the District's commitments and accountabilities through the lens of human rights and equity. This includes ensuring equitable budget and human resources allocation to address systemic barriers, and centering the voices and lived experiences of students to support their wellbeing and learning.

You can learn more about our strategic goals at these links:

• OCDSB Strategic Plan 2023-2027
• Indigenous, Human Rights and Equity Roadmap

ACE provides advice to trustees on equity-centered decision-making in many areas, and creates opportunities to highlight diverse student voices.

Over the last four years, ACE has been listening for ways to keep the channels open between the District and the communities served.

During monthly meetings, the committee has held conversations on whose voices were present or not present at the table, and which aspects of the current meeting structure may need to be shifted to ensure that families, students, and staff feel heard and valued.

This fall, intentional preparations were put in place to capture the voices and stories of those who may not know about ACE and those who wish to include their voices as circumstances have changed in their lives.

The current policy review is part of these ongoing conversations. Preliminary review activities occurred during the October 26, 2023 ACE meeting, with ongoing opportunities for input between meetings as reviewed again during the February meeting. Previous updates to the policy occurred in 2018 through a consultative process.

After April 30, 2024, all input will be reviewed by ACE chairs in collaboration with a staff policy analyst. All input will be considered for revisions to the policy. The feedback will also be used to update the committee membership criteria to reflect the past, current, and evolving community needs and to provide the best avenues for the committee to support/advise on equity, diversity and inclusion within the OCDSB.