Ottawa public school board proposes allowing students without passing grades to participate in graduation

A proposed change to the graduation ceremony policy of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) would see the board switch to equity-based commencement ceremonies and allow for students without passing grades to participate.

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Under the proposed changes to Policy P.038.SCO Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies and Awards, the board would be changing the policy's language to phase out graduation ceremonies in favour of commencement ceremonies.

"The main difference between a commencement ceremony and a graduation ceremony is that a commencement ceremony is more inclusive," the OCDSB in a statement on its website. "This aligns with the Board's larger commitments to equity, inclusion, and diversity."

The board is inviting feedback from the public using an online form between Feb. 2 and March 29. 

The ceremonies are said to encompass all students, including those who have historically faced challenges within the education system.

The proposed policy says certain students may not be graduating with the class for various reasons, but that it should not 'preclude' them from celebrating their milestones along with their peers.

In addition, the draft policy on the OCDSB website says student graduation awards, including trophies, medals and other prizes traditionally given at graduation ceremonies would be phased out in favour of achievements, to include a wide variety of student experiences and talent, without being strictly academic. The policy would also remove gender-based distinctions from achievements.

Lynn Scott, chair of the OCDSB board of trustees, defended the policy on 580 CFRA Tuesday, but agrees there is some confusion in the wording of the draft policy.

"I won't disagree with you that the language is confusing," Scott told Graham Richardson on Ottawa at Work.

"Frankly, to say we are giving out achievements doesn’t make much sense. So I think that language is missing a word or two. There will still be awards and there will still be awards that are not strictly academic, like there is now."

Scott says the practice of offering students the ability to walk the stage at graduation who don’t meet the requirements has already been in place at some schools for years, including for those with developmental disabilities or those who may need to take summer courses or an extra year to catch up.

Scott says the policy is meant to bring consistency on graduation policies to all schools.

"The people who have not achieved the diploma are still meeting certain requirements and expectations and I really don’t understand why we wouldn’t include them as well," she said.

Scott says the board is welcoming feedback from the public on the matter and says there will likely be changes to the draft policy.

"We haven’t approved the new policy, it is still open for feedback and I will expect there will be a very hefty debate on where we draw lines on who gets to walk across the stage and who doesn't," she said.

The board's graduation policy has been in place since 1998. The proposal is said to reflect the OCDSB's 2023-27 Strategic Plan, which seeks to revise practices at both the school and system level which disadvantage diverse students.

"Students' educational journeys are diverse, this means that all students’ experiences ought to have the opportunity to be celebrated with their teachers, peers, families, and friends in attendance," said a report presented to the board's ad hoc review committee meeting in February.

The policy will be discussed at the board's next Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee meeting on April 4.