A unique survey has been created for Grade 4 to Grade 12 students, parents/guardians of Kindergarten to Grade 3 students and staff. This is an opportunity for everyone to have their say!
Have Your Say Survey
Join the Conversation by Completing the Have Your Say Survey
The HDSB is inviting parents/guardians of Kindergarten to Grade 3 students, students in Grade 4 to 12 and HDSB staff to complete the Have Your Say survey. The information gathered from the survey will help our schools continue to create a positive environment, inform school improvement and well-being plans and allow parents/guardians and students to have a voice in creating a supportive community at our schools. The survey is accessible using a mobile device. Surveys are available in the following languages: Arabic, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Urdu.
The surveys are confidential and voluntary, and participants can skip any question they do not wish to answer.
Participants will be asked to respond to questions related to learning and instruction, safety and well-being, school-home partnership, etc. This year’s Have Your Say survey also includes questions about identity, as mandated by the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, and the Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan.
Have Your Say Survey for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students
The survey will launch on April 28, 2025. Parents/guardians of Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will receive an invitation to complete the survey through the email address they have on file with their child’s school.
Have Your Say Survey for Grade 4 to Grade 12 Students
Students in Grade 4 to 12 will receive a link to the student survey directly from the HDSB via email and will complete the survey during the school day. Parents/guardians who do not want their child(ren) to complete the survey can opt out of the data collection by completing the opt-out form by April 28, 2025 at 4 p.m.
2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24 Have Your Say Survey Results
Data from the Have Your Say anonymous survey are presented here, for the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24 school years. Students in grades 4-12 were invited to respond to questions pertaining to learning, safety, bullying, well-being and substance use (Grade 7 and above only).
The results of the survey are used by school administrators and the board, to determine areas of focus to maintain and promote a healthy and positive environment in every HDSB school.
Participation Rates
Participation rates are presented for the 2021-22 school year. A total of 23,646 Grade 4 to 12 students participated in the 2021-2022 survey, representing a participation rate of 51%. Participation was higher for elementary students (63%), relative to secondary students (37%).Next Cycle of Data Collection
Results of the 2024-2025 Have Your Say survey will be shared here in the fall 2025.Have Your Say Survey FAQs
Who should complete the Have Your Say survey?
Where/When will the results of the Have Your Say survey be posted?
The results of the survey will be posted on this site in Fall 2025.
Why should I take the time to do this survey?
This survey is a chance to have your say about issues that will directly impact you in the coming years. It is important that the results from the Have Your Say reflect the voices of every student and staff, therefore the more responses received, the more effective the data will be to help inform and improve programming and learning environments.
How long will the survey take to complete?
Approximately 20-30 minutes. If you get interrupted while completing the survey, the system allows you to take a break and pick-up from where you left off.
How many questions does the survey consist of?
The number of questions in each survey varies depending on if you are a student, parent/guardian or staff member, as well as the students’ grade.
Yes. Some of the questions in the survey(s) cover issues that we have not asked you about previously.
Should parents/guardians complete one survey per child?
Parents/guardians of Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will receive a unique URL for each child.
How will the HDSB protect my child’s information?
The HDSB is committed to the highest levels of privacy and confidentiality when collecting information about students and families. The data is collected under the authority of the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 15, the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2 and complies with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56.
The responses will be stored in a secure, confidential database and will only be accessed by authorized HDSB Research & Accountability staff to identify and summarize trends among HDSB students. Individual student responses will be grouped together for analysis so that no individual student information is ever identifiable.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Questions can be forwarded to haveyoursay@hdsb.ca
