October is Community Inclusion Month: a time to celebrate belonging and recommit to creating schools and communities where everyone is supported and valued.
But for too many students, inclusion can still mean being in a classroom without the supports they need to succeed. And for too many educators and classmates, that lack of support can result in moments of crisis. These moments can disrupt learning, safety, and connection for everyone involved.
These incidents are often called room clears when a student’s stress responses (often linked to unmet accommodations, needs, or environmental triggers and, in some instances, medical needs) result in other students being directed to leave the classroom or common learning area for safety or management reasons.
They happen far more often than most people realize. Yet there is no consistent way to track them.
There’s no clear data to show how often room clears are happening, how much learning time is lost, or how often classrooms are placed in unsafe or unsupported situations.
Right now, these moments simply disappear from the record.
A Tool for Truth and Transparency
That’s why Surrey DPAC, with the support of the Surrey Teachers’ Association (STA) and CUPE 728, has launched the Room Clear Tracker, a simple tool for anyone to safely and anonymously report when these incidents occur.
This is data that districts do not currently collect and frankly, may not want to see because it is jarring. It reveals just how often classrooms are pushed beyond their capacity, how stretched our education system has become and how urgently we need more support for students and staff.
Already, the data is rattling cages — as it should. Real inclusion requires facing uncomfortable truths.
What Makes This Tracker Different
There are other trackers out there, but what makes this one unique is its commitment to collaboration and the purpose of looking at patterns of room clears as an indicator of exclusion. The aggregate data and patterns collected through the Room Clear Tracker will be shared back with DPACs to support their advocacy.
That means we’re not just collecting stories; we’re creating accountability. We’re working together to identify patterns, allocate resources, and push for systemic change that keeps every student connected and safe.
Why It Matters
This project is not about assigning blame.
Room clears typically happen when the system fails to meet a child’s needs: when supports are missing, when environments are overwhelming or when staff are left without adequate resources.
Tracking these moments helps us shine a light on the gaps so we can close them.
A Call to Action
In this Community Inclusion Month, let’s remember that inclusion isn’t just about being present in the classroom. It’s about belonging. Every student has the right to an equitable and accessible education with the support that they need to learn and thrive.
Transparency is the first step toward that vision. The Room Clear Tracker is one small but powerful way to start.
Together, we can make sure no child’s experience is erased from the record again.
👉 Learn more or submit a report: https://surreydpac.ca/roomclear
👉 Media contact: surreydpac@gmail.com