250-880-3451
Kaye.Krishna@gov.bc.ca
This week’s DM Bulletin is coming your way a day earlier than usual given tomorrow is Good Friday. As always around this time of year, we have lots of information to share. This includes direction that May 31 is the deadline to submit your district’s Indigenous Education Council Terms of Reference, details on the upcoming April Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing session, and a reminder to register for the ministry’s Framework in Action Learning Series. There are also details on post-secondary institution selections for 2025 grads, as well as a reminder for educators to submit their practice fees on time.
We’re also sharing two new resources to better support teachers, parents and caregivers. The Ministry of Environment has worked with curriculum experts, students and educators throughout BC to make a brand-new resource for teaching climate change to young students, and I am excited to finally be able to share it with districts. As well we’ve partnered with a drug awareness advocacy group to develop resources on how to quit using vapes and nicotine products. Please share both resources widely within your communities.
I hope you have a wonderful long weekend and have a chance to enjoy more of these beautiful spring days.
Kaye
Please join us April 24 at 3:10 pm PT for the sixth Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session of the 2024-25 school year for an overview of the Transition to Post-Secondary Power BI report. See the poster for more information and the registration link. Please contact EDUC.ReportingUnit@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
The recording for this session will be available on the BC K-12 Education Data Portal, under the Communications tab.
Please remind graduating students to make their PSI selections in the StudentTranscripts Service (STS). Most public BC and Alberta universities and colleges and the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) can retrieve ongoing transcript updates as soon as authorized by the student in STS.
Under section 37 (Annual practice fee) of the Teachers Act, employers are required to remit to the ministry the $95 annual practice fee that is deducted from the wage of certificate holders employed with the board. Please ensure you remit the 2025-26 fees and related list through the Employers’ Area on or before May 15. If you have any questions, email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
The Indigenous Education Branch has begun hosting an Indigenous Education Council (IEC) Implementation Learning Series. Please ensure that your Superintendent (or designates) and District Leads of Indigenous Education attend a session. The Indigenous Education team will provide support, guidance and answer questions about IEC implementation.
School districts and IECs are expected to submit their Terms of Reference to the ministry by May 31, 2025. The ministry recognizes that school districts are working to implement their IECs in a way that suits local needs and that this may take more time than initially anticipated. A reminder that IECs must approve the planning, spending and reporting of IEC Capacity Funding and Indigenous Education Targeted Funding for the 2025-26 school year as per the Indigenous Education Council Policy.
Please submit your IEC Terms of Reference via email to EDUC.IndigenousEducation@gov.bc.ca.
A reminder that registration for the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning’s Framework in Action virtual learning sessions is now open. These sessions will focus on sharing promising practices through short district presentations and providing opportunities for discussion between sector leaders. Superintendents are encouraged to invite their senior leadership team to the sessions. There is no attendee limit for district teams. More information and registration links are available in the Framework in Action poster. For questions, please email EDUC.Framework@gov.bc.ca.
The 2024-25 Student Learning Survey (SLS) is currently available through May 2, 2025. The survey is open for students in Grades 4, 7, 10, 11 and 12, as well as parents, staff and principals/vice-principals. To help monitor survey participation, districts can view their SLS participation rates (updated weekly) through the SLS Participation Dashboard within the BC K-12 Education Data Portal. For any questions on the survey content and dashboards, contact Educ.ReportingUnit@gov.bc.ca. For technical and administrative support in administering the survey, contact AWIS at 1-866-558-5339 or at support@awinfosys.com.
The Jointly Convened Annual Meeting (JCAM) and the first Indigenous Education Council (IEC) Chairs Gathering have both been postponed, allowing districts to dedicate their time to IEC implementation and budget planning for 2025-26. These two important events will now take place in Fall 2025, dates TBD. Please contact EDUC.IndigenousEducation@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
The BC Climate Action Secretariat, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, has released a new teaching resource on climate change education for Kindergarten-Grade 3. Nine learning stories created by BCTF teachers have been included with example lessons on topics such as waste, big weather, outdoor spaces, food, transportation, biodiversity, climate change and climate action that teachers can adapt and implement in their own classrooms. The learning stories include direct connections to the BC Core Competencies, curricular content and competencies, and First Peoples Principles of Learning, along with sample student work, teacher reflections, and suggested assessment criteria. This resource also provides guiding strategies to address climate change topics in K-3 classrooms.
Future resources for teachers in older grades are in development – find out more at K-12 Climate Change Education in B.C. To learn more about climate action in BC, visit the CleanBC web page.
QuitNow is offering a recording of their recent webinar for parents, guardians and caregivers on supporting youth to quit vaping. The webinar provides an overview of vaping and how QuitNow can support families and youth through this difficult process. Additionally, a new information sheet on What to Know About Nicotine Pouches has been developed as a resource for parents, guardians, caregivers and educators.
Discipline outcomes are posted to enhance the transparency of the processes and decisions made with respect to complaints and reports about educators. Recently, outcomes were posted regarding Brigitte Vivianne Monique Marie Lépine and Lydia Maira Fitterer. Both certificate holders agreed to a reprimand.
