FAQ

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FAQ Topics

What is Exclusion?

Exclusion refers to any instance where a child or youth with disabilities and/or complex learning needs is prevented from fully participating in their education or care. This can include:

  • being placed on a gradual entry plan (not applied class-wide)

  • being asked to stay home or sent home

  • experiencing shortened school days

  • being left out of field trips, classroom activities, or extracurricular programs

  • being denied access to child care or out-of-school care

  • not learning alongside peers

  • being subjected to seclusion or restraint, or

  • having essential health, safety, or personal care needs go unmet

Who is this survey for?

This survey is for parents and guardians of children and youth with disabilities and/or complex learning needs across Canada who are experiencing exclusion in K–12 education and/or child care/out-of-school care.

What is the purpose of this survey?

The National Exclusion Tracker (NET)™ is intended to collect details of each instance of exclusion, no matter how small or frequent. Families are encouraged to complete the survey each time exclusion happens.

Documenting these experiences on a national scale highlights the magnitude of exclusion, raises awareness of practices that contribute to exclusion, and provides data that can be used to push for meaningful change in schools, child care programs, and education policy across Canada.

What Can I Expect from the survey?

The survey asks for details about a single instance of exclusion—what happened, where, and how it affected your child or youth. It may also ask for optional demographic information to help us understand how exclusion impacts different communities. The survey can be completed multiple times if exclusions happen more than once.

How is my data collected?*

The data collected will be used to create reports—either snapshots or full-year reports—that highlight issues and practices leading to exclusion, from the perspective of families and children/youth themselves. Reports will be shared with provincial/territorial governments, school boards, ministries, child care organizations, and the media to advocate for change.

Who is Family Support Institute of BC?

The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a non-profit society dedicated to empowering and supporting families who have a family member with a disability.

Who is Inclusive Education Canada?

Inclusive Education Canada (IEC) is a national network of organizations and individuals working to advance inclusive education across the country.
FSI has partnered with IEC to oversee and facilitate the National Exclusion Tracker, ensuring the data collected is shared nationally and used to advance inclusive education across Canada.

What is the history of the Exclusion Tracker?

The Exclusion Tracker was created by BCEdAccess in 2018 to document patterns of exclusion in the K-12 education system. After 7 years of data collection and advocacy, they asked the Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) to take over this work. For the 2025/26 school year, FSI has added a child care survey to the tracker, and is taking the survey national, collecting data for all provinces and territories. Through a partnership with Inclusive Education Canada (IEC), FSI is working with provincial and territorial partners to ensure the continuity of the BCEdAccess legacy while expanding and refining the tool to support broader policy and advocacy work across Canada.