Safe and Caring Schools

Every student in Manitoba deserves to feel safe and respected in school and in their community. Providing a safe and caring school environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours is a top priority for all Manitoba school divisions.

Guided by Safe and Inclusive Schools legislation, Manitoba school boards are proactive in creating and sustaining safe schools by implementing policies that provide safe and inclusive learning environments.

Schools in Manitoba provide safe and caring places for learning. Schools recognize the complexities and the importance of whole-school planning for safety and response. In a safe and caring school, the whole school community develops awareness, skills, and knowledge for well-being, positive relationships, and solution-focused problem solving.

Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning is committed to supporting schools in planning for the provision of safe learning environments for all children and youth.

With parents as partners, educators strive to ensure all children and youth feel safe, confident, and capable as they interact with others and develop as learners.

This website provides an overview of Manitoba initiatives and related links and resources for parents, students, and educators.


A Policy Directive Enhancing Proactive Supports to Minimize the Use of Suspension

A Policy Directive Enhancing Proactive Supports to Minimize the Use of Suspension This document provides guidelines that will inform school divisions in the development of policies and procedures on the use of suspension in schools. This policy directive also provides information that will support schools in their efforts to limit, reduce, and phase-out exclusionary practices except in situations of imminent safety risk to students and staff. School divisions are required to revise or develop policies that establish procedures for the use of suspension in Manitoba schools in accordance with these guidelines.

The companion guide ( 623 KB) provides information, links, and resources intended to support schools in their efforts to limit, reduce, and phase out exclusionary practices.


Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Manitoba Schools

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Manitoba SchoolsSupporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Manitoba Schools provides guidelines for ensuring that schools are safe, respectful and equitable places for transgender and gender diverse students while supporting their individual process.


Safe and Caring Schools: A Policy Directive and Action Plan to Enhance Student Presence and Engagement Safe and Caring Schools: A Policy Directive and Action Plan to Enhance Student Presence and Engagement
This policy directive and related action plan have been created to provide provincial guidance to build upon the work of school divisions, school leaders, educators, and other partners. This policy directive is also designed to identify and address absenteeism before it becomes a problem.


Safe and Caring Schools: Policy Directive on the Use of Seclusion in Manitoba School Settings Safe and Caring Schools: A Policy Directive Enhancing Proactive Supports to Minimize the Use of Seclusion
This document provides guidelines that will inform school divisions in the development of policies and procedures on the use of seclusion as a safety response when a student poses an immediate risk of serious physical harm to self or others.


Cover image of Safe and Caring Schools: A Whole-School Approach to Planning for Safety and BelongingSafe and Caring Schools: A Whole-School Approach to Planning for Safety and Belonging
Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning is committed to supporting school communities in providing safe learning environments. Guided by Safe and Caring Schools legislation, Manitoba school boards are proactive in creating and sustaining safe schools.


Safe and Caring Schools: Respect for Human Diversity Policies (Revised 2015)

Cover image of Safe and Caring Schools: Respect for Human Diversity PoliciesRespect for Human Diversity Policies: A Support Document for Manitoba School Divisions and Funded Independent Schools in Developing Human Diversity Policies is intended to provide information to assist school divisions and funded independent schools to comply with new legislation and to develop a respect for human diversity policy, or to revise existing policy, as a tool toward ensuring all Manitoba students experience safe and inclusive schools.


Cover image of Safe and Caring Schools: Taking Action Against BullyingSafe and Caring Schools: Taking Action Against Bullying
The information in Safe and Caring Schools: Taking Action Against Bullying summarizes current Manitoba legislation and is intended to help adults who work in schools identify incidents of bullying and know what to report, how to report, and when to contact parents. This document will also inform parents of the requirement for schools to report bullying and to contact parents.


Safe and Caring Schools: Provincial Code of Conduct

The Provincial Code of Conduct is a directive of the Minister and sets out appropriate disciplinary consequences and interventions that all schools are required to follow.


Safe and Caring Schools: A Resource for Equity and Inclusion in Manitoba Schools (MB MYGSA)

Cover image of Safe and Caring Schools: A Resource for Equity and Inclusion in Manitoba Schools (MB MYGSA)Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning, in collaboration with EGALE Canada developed and published Safe and Caring Schools – A Resource for Equity and Inclusion in Manitoba Schools (MB MYGSA). This document is a valuable tool for educators, students, and parents in working together to create more equitable and inclusive schools, especially with respect to diversity of sexuality and gender identity and expression.