DM Bulletin – January 23, 2026 – Deputy Minister's Bulletin

Friday January 23, 2026

**Kaye Krishna**
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care

Happy Friday, everyone. I’m happy to be back following my leave and am eager to reconnect with all of you on the important work that lies ahead.

In addition to the many updates included in this week’s bulletin, I wanted to let you know that we completed the second phase of our ministry’s functional restructuring this week. The changes were effective yesterday and build on the changes we made last May, when we updated executive positions and divisions to better support the alignment of child care and the K-12 systems. This week’s changes update the structures from within each of the ADM’s portfolios, and you can connect with them if you or your team have questions about how our teams continue our good work together.

Please see below for some important updates to action or for your information.

Have a great weekend.

Kaye

For Action

Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session

For Action

Published Friday January 23 2026

Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session

Please join us January 29 at 3:10 pm PT for the third Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session of the 2025-26 school year, featuring an Overview of the Mental Health Power BI Report and highlights from the 2024-25 Student Learning Survey (SLS) Provincial Results. 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.

Directors of Instruction|District SOGI Leads|Inclusive Education Leads|Indigenous Education Leads|Mental Health Leads
Affordable Child Care Benefit Resource
For Action

Published Friday January 23 2026

Affordable Child Care Benefit Resource

A new resource is now available to assist families and child care providers in understanding the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) and access funding. This printable brochure includes:
- Key eligibility information
- Step-by-step guidance on how to apply
- A QR code linking to additional details on our website
Pleas share this new resource widely to ensure more families and community members benefit from the ACCB when accessing child care. For further assistance, ministry call centre staff are available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT at 1-888-338-6622 (option 1).
Early Learning and Child Care Leads|Principals & Vice Principals
Annual Lead in Water Reporting

For Action

Published Friday January 23 2026

Annual Lead in Water Reporting

School districts are required to test lead content in drinking water in their facilities to ensure the water quality meets established health guidelines. Please complete the 2025-26 Testing Lead Content in Drinking Water of School Facilities Report (in the Publications and Resources section) then submit your report to the Education and Child Care Capital Branch by February 28, 2026. Policy and sampling information is available on the Testing Lead Content in Drinking Water of School Facilities web page and the new Drinking Water Officers’ Guide provided by Ministry of Health.

Facility Leads|Secretary-Treasurers

For Information

EDX Phase 3: Graduation Data Transfer Specifications
For Information

Published Friday January 23 2026

EDX Phase 3: Graduation Data Transfer Specifications

In preparation for the February 23 launch of EDX Phase 3, a final copy of the Graduation Data Transfer Specifications is now available. For MyEducation BC schools, core specification alignment is being coordinated at the enterprise level.

What schools should do now:
- Review Section 1: Summary of Changes, paying particular attention to items that may require closer management of data at the school-level.
- Clean up PEN mismatches on current TRAX Data Error Reports:
  Any mismatch in student PEN, name (first, middle, last), or date of birth with the PEN registry will now result in a critical error that prevents loading all data for that student, including CRS and XAM records.
  
  Previously, these mismatches only returned errors in the DEM file. Schools can prepare by correcting these discrepancies now to avoid transfer failures.
Questions?

For queries related to the new specifications, contact TRAX.Support@gov.bc.ca

For queries related to PENs, contact PENs.Coordinator@gov.bc.ca
Service Design Project Underway for the Student Information System

For Information

Published Friday January 23 2026

Service Design Project Underway for the Student Information System

Connected Services BC is leading a service design project to help shape the next generation of the provincial student information system (MyEducation BC). The project focuses on studying parent and student interactions with schools and related digital tools. The project aims to enhance the experience for all users and guide the future SIS procurement.

Online Learning Principals and Vice-Principals|Principals & Vice Principals
Call for Nominations – Order of British Columbia and Medal of Good Citizenship

For Information

Published Friday January 23 2026

Call for Nominations – Order of British Columbia and Medal of Good Citizenship

To celebrate service excellence, the Province is inviting the public to nominate outstanding individuals for the Province’s two highest honours: the Order of British Columbia and the Medal of Good Citizenship.

The Order of British Columbia is the highest honour awarded by the Province and recognizes outstanding achievement, excellence or distinction by a former or current B.C. resident whose contributions benefit the province and elsewhere.

The Medal of Good Citizenship honours individuals whose selfless volunteerism, generosity and contributions have a positive effect on their community. Nominations for youth aged 15 to 25 are also accepted, as well as posthumous nominations.

Nominations for both honours must reach the Honours and Awards Secretariat by April 7, 2026, to be considered in 2026. An independent selection committee reviews all nominations and recommends candidates.

For further information and to submit nominations, please visit the Order of British Columbia and Medal of Good Citizenship web pages.

Early Learning and Child Care Leads|Principals & Vice Principals
Real Acts of Caring Week

For Information

Published Friday January 23 2026

Real Acts of Caring Week

Real Acts of Caring (RAC) is a student-led initiative that began 21 years ago and is all about doing something caring and kind for others without expecting anything in return. RAC week is from February 8-14, 2026, and your school district, along with your students, is invited to join this year in planning intentional acts of caring that will ripple across your community. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please reach out to Harriette Chang at changharriette@gmail.com or Melissa Burdock at Mburdock@sd67.bc.ca.

Mental Health Leads|Principals & Vice Principals
TRB Discipline Outcomes

For Information

Published Friday January 23 2026

TRB Discipline Outcomes

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 Bradley Jonathan Bootsma and William Walter McCrae. Both certificate holders agreed to a reprimand.

Principals & Vice Principals

Friday January 23, 2026

For Action

Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session

Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session

Affordable Child Care Benefit Resource

Affordable Child Care Benefit Resource

Annual Lead in Water Reporting

Annual Lead in Water Reporting

For Information

EDX Phase 3: Graduation Data Transfer Specifications

EDX Phase 3: Graduation Data Transfer Specifications

Service Design Project Underway for the Student Information System

Service Design Project Underway for the Student Information System

Call for Nominations – Order of British Columbia and Medal of Good Citizenship

Call for Nominations – Order of British Columbia and Medal of Good Citizenship

Real Acts of Caring Week

Real Acts of Caring Week

TRB Discipline Outcomes

TRB Discipline Outcomes

School District Reporting Requirements

News Releases

Additional Resources

Contact Us