Make a Future has launched the Internationally Educated Teachers website to support the recruitment of international teachers wanting to work in British Columbia. Funded by the Ministry of Education and Child Care as part of the K–12 Workforce Plan and developed in collaboration with experts in teacher certification and immigration, this site offers clear guidance on teacher certification, immigration, and job search strategies for international candidates, along with hiring resources for employers.
Friday June 27, 2025
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
250-880-3451
Kaye.Krishna@gov.bc.ca
Hello everyone,
The end of the 24/25 school year has finally arrived. In addition to the Special Bulletin I sent out yesterday on literacy screenings, I have a few more big items to share this week, including important information about an upcoming session led by Safer Schools Together and the ministry taking place during the BCSSA Summer Leadership Gathering in August. As well, I am sharing a few resources on hiring international teachers, the annual Graduation Program Policy Guide and accompanying Handbook of Procedures, and a mental health and neurodiversity resource.
I look forward to sharing one more Bulletin next Friday before we take a short break for a few weeks.
Enjoy your weekend,
Kaye
For Action
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For Information
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National School Food Program Year 2 Allocations & Feeding Futures Funding Update
The ministry is working with the federal government to finalize and share Year 2 (2025-26) allocations for National School Food Program funding. Allocations will be emailed to Superintendents and Secretary-Treasurers and posted on the 2025-26 Estimated Operating Grants web page as soon as they are available.
Feeding Futures funding has also now been confirmed as a part of the ministry’s base budget. As Government operates in three-year budget cycles, Feeding Futures funding was originally announced over three years starting in 2023. However, funding is now ongoing and can only be removed if Government makes changes to the ministry’s base budget.
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2025-26 Handbook of Procedures and BC Graduation Program Policy Guide
The 2025-26 BC Graduation Program Policy Guide and the companion Handbook of Procedures for the Graduation Program are now available on the Graduation Information for Administrators web page. Please see the “What’s New” section in each document for any updates to procedures and policies. French versions of both the Handbook and Policy Guide will be available soon. Please contact EDUC.GradStandards@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions regarding these documents.
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Creating Safer School Communities: A Ministry Session on Responding to Threats and Critical Incidents
As part of the British Columbia School Superintendents Association’s Summer Leadership Gathering in Whistler, Safer Schools Together and the Ministry of Education and Child Care will be hosting a special session focused on creating safer school communities. This interactive session will explore effective, trauma-informed practices for responding to threat-related behaviors and critical incidents in schools—an increasingly urgent topic across many districts.
Rooted in principles of safety, inclusion, and equity, this session will highlight provincial best practices and tools that support safe, caring and identity-affirming learning environments. Participants will gain insights into how school and district leaders can strengthen policies, deepen trust with families, and build staff capacity to respond with care and consistency when harm occurs.
Whether you’re an experienced leader or newly appointed, this session adds critical depth to an already rich and dynamic conference agenda and underscores the collective work of cultivating school communities where all students and staff can thrive.
This session will take place on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 12:30-3:00 pm. Registration for this session is now open.
Please reach out to the Student Safety Team at erase@gov.bc.ca for more information or if you have questions about this session.
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Indigenous Focused Non-Instructional Day Extension
The British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) has been extended by the Parties (Canada, BC and FNESC), with it now expiring June 30, 2026. Under the terms of BCTEA, the Indigenous-focused non-instructional day will continue as one of the existing non-instructional days for the 2025-26 school year. This is a positive opportunity for teachers to participate in discussions and activities that focus on enhancing Indigenous student achievement and integrating Indigenous world views and perspectives into the learning environment, with a particular focus on local First Nations on whose territories districts operate schools. Please keep this requirement in mind as you plan your calendars and professional development opportunities.
A reminder that your board must consult the Indigenous Education Council on non-instructional time focused on enhancing Indigenous student achievement or integrating Indigenous world views and perspectives into learning environments, for example the Indigenous Focused Non-Instructional Day.
Please contact EDUC.IndigenousEducation@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions about the Indigenous-focused non-instructional day or EDUC.SchoolCalendars@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions about school calendars.
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Neurodiversity and Mental Health Resources for Families
The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) has developed new resources for families who are supporting children and youth who are neurodivergent and experiencing co-occurring mental health challenges. Developed in collaboration with parents with lived/living experience, an Indigenous Elder, and a variety of community service providers and experts in the field, this collection of evidence-informed, culturally relevant videos and resources aims to reduce stigma, increase mental health literacy and build the capacity of parents, caregivers and others who are supporting the mental well-being of children and youth. An expansion of this resource designed for BC educators is being developed, which will become available in September 2025. For more information and to access these new resources, please visit MCFD’s HealthyMindsBC website.
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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, an outcome was posted regarding Robert Luke Acheson, whose certificate was suspended for one day.
