In early 2021, research departments from eight large mostly urban school boards, together representing 865,000 students, agreed to work together to share information on key educational indicators in the context of COVID-19. The initial focus for this group, the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton (GTAH) School Board Collaboration on Schooling During COVID-19, was data from the 2020-21 school year and baseline data from 2019-20. Five boards, representing over 630,000 students, were able to participate in this round of data sharing:
- Durham District School Board,
- Halton Catholic District School Board,
- Peel District School Board,
- Toronto District School Board, and
- York Region District School Board.
This report is based on aggregate administrative data collected by school boards, such as: learning model details, kindergarten enrollment, and attendance and absenteeism.
This shared data provides system-level insight into important issues about pandemic schooling, while also raising important questions to consider when understanding the experiences of students and families through this pandemic.