Vidya Shah

5

Articles

0

Comments
  • Associate Professor, Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education, Ontario Institute, University of Toronto
Real per-student provincial operating funding to boards last year was at the lowest level seen over the last 10 years, according to The Financial Accountability office of Ontario. A school hallway in Ottawa, in December 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

What Ontarians need to know about ‘student achievement’ reforms that will run school boards like businesses

Sachin Maharaj, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Beyhan Farhadi, University of Toronto, and Vidya Shah, University of Toronto

All students and families will be impacted by cuts and provincial reforms being imposed on Ontario schools, and those who are already disadvantaged will bear the brunt.
School trustees play an important role in shaping education, yet during election time voters often have little awareness of trustee candidates. (Shutterstock)

Even school boards are now experiencing severe political polarization

Sachin Maharaj, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Stephanie Tuters, University of Toronto, and Vidya Shah, York University, Canada

According to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, far-right groups have been trying to stack school boards with candidates harbouring anti-equity ideologies.
Parents protested a new anti-racism policy at an Ontario school board saying their children could ‘internalize shame and guilt because they’re white.’ Unsplash

Why critical race theory should inform schools

Carl E. James, York University, Canada and Vidya Shah, University of Toronto

Recently, specious claims against critical race theory have been showing up in Canada. School boards are being questioned about their anti-racism policies and the teaching of CRT to students.
Parent activism for racial justice in schools is parent engagement. How are school boards valuing and supporting this? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

5 ways school boards can address racial injustice

Vidya Shah, York University, Canada; Gisele Cuglievan Mindreau, University of Toronto, and Nada Aoudeh, York University, Canada

Rethinking accountability structures, how to engage parents and the community and how to support anti-racist leadership competencies all matter.
Toronto school board data reveals that Black, racialized and lower-income students face significant gaps in student outcomes. Nik Shuliahin /Unsplash

Racialized student achievement gaps are a red‑alert

Vidya Shah, York University, Canada

In examining and addressing opportunity gaps for racialized students in schools, school boards must learn to account for present-day and historical inequities.

Contact Vidya for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision