The Resource Management Division is requesting that your district’s enrolment estimates for the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 school years be submitted to the ministry by Friday, February 14, 2025. The enrolment estimates received from school districts will be used by the ministry to facilitate the development of operating grant estimates. Operating grant estimates for 2025/26 will be announced on or before March 15, 2025.
(more…)Friday January 17, 2025
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
Happy Friday, everyone. Here in Victoria the days finally seem to be getting a little longer, and it’s not always quite so dark on the way home.
We have a long list of items in this week’s Bulletin, including a request to districts to provide your projected enrolment estimates for the next three years so we can prepare our operating grant estimates. As you will see below, feedback from May’s All Superintendents’ Meeting has also been incorporated into a poster to help all parties better understand everyone’s roles and responsibilities with regards to improving student outcomes. There are several grant and application opportunities whose deadlines are approaching, including for mental health, BC Excellence Awards, Pathway to Teach scholarships, and an expansion to the Dual Credit Program. Registration is also open for the March 4 BCTEA Annual Meeting, and please hold the date for the May 5 Mental Health in Schools Conference.
The Bulletin also includes links to two surveys, one on the impact of non-consensual sharing of intimate images and one on financial support for students in post-secondary education, as well as details on presentations on mental health and Education Data Exchange (EDX) training.
Finally, as you may already know, Minister Beare’s mandate letter is now available. I invite you to review her letter carefully so you are aware of the priorities that she has been assigned.
A busy week with lots to share!
I hope you have a restful weekend.
Kaye
For Action
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2024/25 Mental Health in Schools Grants
Grant letters and funds were sent to school districts on August 29, 2024. These funds support the promotion of mental health and well-being in school communities. As part of the grant process, school districts are required to complete Part Two of the Action Plan Questionnaire by January 22, 2025. If you have questions, please contact the Mental Health and Substance Use team at EDUC.MentalHealth@gov.bc.ca.
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British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) Virtual Annual Meeting on Transportation to Public Schools – Registration Open
The Ministry of Education and Child Care, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) invite you to register for this year’s BCTEA Annual Meeting on Transportation on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm PST. Details are available in the event backgrounder below.
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Due Feb 17 – Applications for BC Excellence and Pathway to Teacher Education Scholarships
Please remind staff and students that applications for the BC Excellence and Pathway to Teacher Education scholarships will be accepted until February 17, 2025. Applicants must be on track to graduate and meet core eligibility and scholarship-specific requirements by August 31, 2025. Recipients are awarded a $5,000 scholarship voucher for tuition reimbursement after they attend a designated post-secondary institution or BC-authorized trades training provider (Excellence) or an approved teacher education program at a BC post-secondary institution (Pathway). Online applications are due Monday, February 17, 2025, by 3:00 pm PST. Please contact scholarships@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
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Due April 11 – Dual Credit Program Expansion Grant Applications
As part of the StrongerBC Future Ready Action Plan, a second round of grants are available to help school districts, independent schools and post-secondary partners develop and deliver dual credit opportunities for students in an array of in-demand occupations. Applications, including proposed budgets, are due April 11, 2025. Visit the Dual Credit web page to access the application package including instructions and the application form. Email dualcredit@gov.bc.ca if you have questions or to register for an information session on Thursday, February 13, at 3:30 pm PST.
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Save the Date: Mental Health in Schools Conference, May 5-6, 2025
The 2025 Mental Health in Schools Conference will take place in person in Vancouver, BC, on May 5-6, 2025. Please save the dates in your calendar. Formal invitations will be sent to Superintendents and partners in February.
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Student Survey – The Impact of Non-Consensual Intimate Image Sharing (Ages 12-18)
The Ministry of Attorney General and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General are conducting a survey to better understand how non-consensual intimate image sharing affects youth in British Columbia. Related to the Intimate Images Protection Act, Government offers services to assist individuals whose private images or videos have been shared or threatened to be shared without their consent. They want to know if young people find these services helpful and how they may be improved in the future.
This survey is open to youth in BC aged 12-18 and takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. It includes questions about sharing private images or videos without consent including images that are real, fake or artificially altered. Responses are anonymous.
More information on this survey, plus a link and a QR code to access it, can be found on this poster. Please share this poster broadly with your student community.
Contact the Intimate Images Protection Service for information and help with taking non-consensual intimate images down. For immediate support, call a crisis line any time.
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Bell Let’s Talk Day – January 22
Bell Let’s Talk is a year-round initiative committed to driving positive change by investing in mental health projects and programs and putting a spotlight on mental health. This year, the campaign will support providers who focus on youth mental health. Visit Bell Let’s Talk for more information. For additional information on mental health resources, visit the ministry’s erase website.
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Reminder: EDX 1701 Training for Superintendents and Secretary-Treasurers
The ministry is hosting webinars for Superintendents and Secretary-Treasurers on the new 1701 submission and sign-off process using the Education Data Exchange (EDX). Four sessions are scheduled in January to prepare for the first 1701 collection through EDX in February. To register, email educationdataexchange@gov.bc.ca with your name, district and preferred date and time.
Superintendents: January 21 10-11 am PST or January 23 1-2 pm PST
Secretary-Treasurers: January 21 1-2 pm PST or January 23 10-11 am PST
If you don’t have an EDX account, please connect with your district’s EDX account manager to be onboarded. The new 1701 data collection function is set for release the week of January 20.
EDX is a new data collection platform that’s modernizing how the ministry collects and utilizes student data. It will ensure submitted data is of the highest quality, strengthening service to schools, districts and students. Learn more on the EDX Info Hub.
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Help Shape the Future of Student Financial Support for Post-Secondary Education
High school teachers and counsellors play a pivotal role in helping students explore funding options for post-secondary education. To better support these efforts, the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS) is conducting a user research project to improve the digital services available on websites such as StudentAidBC, WorkBC.ca and EducationPlannerBC.
Teachers and counsellors who are interested in participating in this project can sign up for a 60-minute online user session. The session will involve a combination of interviews and usability testing. Participants will share their experiences with current resources and provide feedback on potential improvements. Participants will each receive a $50 gift card upon completing the user research session.
With input from teachers and counselors, PSFS hopes to create more user-friendly, effective tools to support students as they navigate financial planning and funding for their post-secondary education.
For Information
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Finalized Infographic for “Roles and Responsibilities for Boards of Education”
In partnership with the BC School Trustees Association, the ministry struck an advisory committee composed of members from FNESC, BCSSA, and BCASBO to:
- establish clear expectations for boards of education to support continuous improvement through strategic planning and
- define the role of boards of education within the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning and in improving the equity of learning outcomes for all students, especially Indigenous learners, children and youth in care, and students with disabilities or diverse abilities.
This Roles and Responsibilities for Boards of Education infographic was co-created by the committee and incorporates feedback from the May 2024 All Superintendents meeting. BCSTA will begin the development of trustee training based on the infographic and articulated roles and responsibilities.
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New EDX 1701 Data Collection Functionality Set for Release
The new Student-Level Data collection function (1701) will be available in the Education Data Exchange (EDX) as of January 20, 2025. The new function will be supported by comprehensive, step-by-step user guides. Learn more on the EDX Info Hub.
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Brain Waves: A Virtual Neuroscience Presentation for Grades 4 to 6
Brain Waves is a free, fun, curriculum-aligned, virtual neuroscience presentation for grades 4 to 6. Delivered by post-secondary students, the 1-hour online presentations are offered throughout February 2025 and include:
- basic brain anatomy and functions;
- reviewing the nervous system and spinal cord; and
- proper helmet fitting and the importance of protecting the brain from preventable injuries.
If you are interested in having Brain Waves presented to your class, book a session using Calendly or visit the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) Brain Waves web page.
