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Barriers associated with socioeconomic status disproportionately affect racialized students' access to education in Toronto. Here's a thread on why: (1/n)
In Toronto, children from racialized families are more than twice as likely to be living in poverty compared to those from non-racialized families, according to an independent report released in 2017: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/15/toronto-child-poverty-divided-along-racial-lines.html (2/n)
The numbers are especially stark for those from West Asian or Arab backgrounds. Almost one in two of these children were found to be living on or under Toronto's poverty line. (3/n)
Poverty rates for children in Black families in Toronto are almost three times that of children in non-racialized families: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/unequal_city_the_hidden_divide_among_toronto_s_children_and_youth (4/n)
How does this affect access to education?
"In schools with separate academic ‘pathways,’ low-income students are more than twice as likely to end up in applied-level classes, often leaving them unprepared for graduation and ineligible for many postsecondary opportunities." (5/n
"In schools with separate academic ‘pathways,’ low-income students are more than twice as likely to end up in applied-level classes, often leaving them unprepared for graduation and ineligible for many postsecondary opportunities." (5/n
Low-income students are often also restricted by school choice in their neighbourhood.
With regard to school rankings, schools in lower income neighbourhoods consistently obtain lower achievement levels on standardized test scores, pointing to ... (6/n)
With regard to school rankings, schools in lower income neighbourhoods consistently obtain lower achievement levels on standardized test scores, pointing to ... (6/n)
... a lack of funding and student support, despite the structure of public funding for education in Canada. (7/n)
Many people don't know that in 2015, more than two-thirds of the elementary schools the Toronto District School Board marked for closure or merging were in the city’s poorest neighbourhoods.
Closures disproportionately affect access to education for lower-income students. (8/n)
Closures disproportionately affect access to education for lower-income students. (8/n)
Public education is uniquely positioned to either mitigate or exacerbate socioeconomic inequality in Toronto, which currently exists along racial lines.
Statistics show that, unfortunately, it is worsening these divides. (9/n)
Statistics show that, unfortunately, it is worsening these divides. (9/n)
Further reading on the hidden gaps in Canada's education system: https://www.opencanada.org/features/inequality-explained-hidden-gaps-canadas-education-system/#:~:text=Statistics%20Canada%20shows%20that%20%E2%80%9Cthe,inequality%20by%20supporting%20the%20future
