School districts should welcome and enroll school age students who are refugees, refugee claimants, or displaced students and should ensure that they have the required financial hardship policy, as per the School Act. These students should be claimed for funding in your 2023/24 school year by using the 1701 form and following the 1701 form instructions. Read the Funding Eligibility for Refugee and Displaced Students attachment for additional information. Questions can be directed to EDUC.SRSD@gov.bc.ca.
Friday September 15, 2023
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
Hi, everyone.
Thank you again for joining the call this morning to touch base after the first two weeks of school. Another full list of updates this week including an invitation to join a virtual Town Hall with Minister of State for Child Care Grace Lore, updated communicable disease guidelines as we head into the respiratory illness season (feel better Teresa in SD 74!), and a reminder about the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning Reports, amongst a number of updates and reminders.
Have a great weekend,
Christina
Christina Zacharuk
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
For Action
-
Register for Town Hall with Minister of State for Child Care – Sept 26
Minister of State for Child Care Grace Lore will be hosting the second ChildCareBC Town Hall forum on September 26 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The virtual session will be open to the child care and early learning sector, and participants will be able to submit questions and feedback directly to the minister during the forum. Registration is open now.
-
Portable Inventory Report
School districts are required to provide the ministry with their annual portables inventory update using the web-based Capital Asset Planning System MyCAPS by Friday, September 29. Please visit the Capital Planning website and select Portable Inventory Instructions under Publications & Resources to access the inventory instructions. Email capitalmanagementbranch@gov.bc.ca with any questions or notifications of completion of the portable inventory update.
-
Minor Capital Project Requests Call for Submissions
A reminder to school districts that 2024/25 capital project requests for Minor Capital Programs (BUS, CNCP, PEP, SEP, FIP) are due on or before September 30, 2023, submitted through MyCAPS. Refer to the Capital Plan Instructions for eligibility criteria and submission requirements. Please contact Ravnit.Aujla@gov.bc.ca or Nathan.Whipp@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
-
School Bus Inventory Report
School districts are required to provide the ministry with their annual school bus inventory update in MyCAPS by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the Capital Planning website and select 2023/24 School Bus Inventory Instructions under Publications & Resources. Email capitalmanagementbranch@gov.bc.ca with any questions and to notify completion of your inventory update.
-
Framework for Enhancing Student Learning Report
A reminder that this year the ministry will accept Enhancing Student Learning Reports up to October 3. Districts should submit the Enhancing Student Learning Report and strategic plan to EDUC.Framework@gov.bc.ca. For additional information, including the Enhancing Student Learning Report Guiding Template, please go to the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning website.
-
Introduction to Compassionate Systems Leadership Training – Oct 3-6, 2023
A reminder that B.C. educators are invited to register for the Introduction to Compassionate Systems Leadership workshop on October 3-6. In-person registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register no later than September 17 (in-person) and September 23 (virtual).
For Information
-
Provincial Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings
The ministry has updated the Provincial Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings. As in previous years, the guidelines align with BCCDC Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance and provide up-to-date information on managing the spread of communicable diseases. The guideline documents can be accessed under Communicable Disease Guidelines on the Safe and healthy schools web page. School districts can continue to order rapid antigen test kits and masks. If you experience login issues when ordering masks, please contact helpdesk@silverbacksystems.io or 604-332-4694.
-
Accessible B.C. Regulation: Compliance Support from BC CAISE
The Accessible B.C. Regulation requires prescribed organizations, including all school districts, to have an accessibility plan, accessibility committee, and a tool to receive public feedback by September 1, 2023. BC CAISE, in partnership with the ministry, the Disability Alliance of BC, and Untapped Accessibility, continues to provide support for school districts where this work is in progress. School districts can access BC CAISE resources online, or request support from an Untapped Accessibility consultant free of charge by emailing info@untappedaccessibility.ca. School districts are also encouraged to share the What to Expect resource with members of your school communities who have questions about the regulation.
-
Reminder: International Education Mobility Programs
A reminder that applications for the 2023/2024 International Education Mobility Programs are open to school districts from September 8 to 29. The programs support B.C. students on exchange or mobility activities to foster the development of intercultural skills and knowledge. They also support B.C. teachers in developing new partnerships, strengthening existing partnerships, facilitating student exchange opportunities, and providing opportunities for professional development. They also provide support for districts to expand their programs’ capacity to host international students. Learn more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
