Government is moving toward an all‑of‑government approach to supporting child, youth and family well-being, and as part of this shift, the Province is revising how Early Development Instrument (EDI) data are collected and used. EDI information remains a valuable resource for school districts, health authorities and community partners, and government is committed to ensuring continued meaningful access.
Under the updated model, EDI data collection will be carried out through five representative school districts. These districts were selected because they reflect a range of provincial contexts, including high EDI use, and strong collaboration with local health authorities and communities where EDI insights play a central role in planning. The information produced through this representative model will continue to support provincewide understanding of children’s development.
Districts outside the representative group will still have access to the provincial insights that come from this work. For those wishing to participate more directly, UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership (UBC HELP) will offer opt‑in opportunities that allow districts or, in some cases, health authorities, to engage at a level that aligns with their needs and budgets.
This shift maintains continuity in the availability of high‑quality EDI data while supporting government’s broader commitment to coordinated, provincewide planning for child and youth well-being. Districts will continue to benefit from EDI insights through the representative model or through voluntary participation, depending on what works best for their local context.
For questions and additional information please contact Jeremy Higgs, Executive Director, Systems Modelling and Analytics at Jeremy.Higgs@gov.bc.ca