The Safe and Caring School Communities policy guides boards of education and schools in their efforts to create safe, caring and inclusive learning environments. This policy has been updated to reflect current community threat assessment protocols and to strengthen language around safe, caring and inclusive communities. Please replace the previous version of the policy in your records with this updated copy. The Independent School Policy is also being updated. Any questions can be directed to erase@gov.bc.ca.
Friday September 20, 2024
Acting Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
Happy Friday, everyone. As you wrap up your second full week of school and classes are being finalized, I know many of you are looking at students who have arrived (and haven’t) and what that means at an operations and program level. The start of the year is always hectic and the surprises never stop for you.
This week’s Deputy Minister’s Bulletin includes several important announcements, such as Classroom Enhancement Fund Reporting, an updated Safe and Caring School Communities Policy, a reminder to submit your Enhancing Student Learning Report, and news about the Commissioner for Teacher Regulation. These and many other important items can be found below.
Tomorrow, as you know, marks the start of B.C.’s provincial election campaign. The operational business of government continues, and ministry staff will remain hard at work during the interregnum period to help you and your teams continue to support student success in your districts. The Deputy Minister’s Bulletin will continue as well during this period, so keep an eye on your mailbox for the next edition.
Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer
For Action
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2024 Nominal Roll Learning Series: Webinars on the Joint Verification Process – Registration Reminder
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), in collaboration with the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and the Ministry of Education and Child Care, invites you to attend a webinar on the Joint Verification Process (JVP). This is a reminder that registration is now open.
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Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session
Please join us on September 26 at 3:10 pm PDT for the first Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session of the 2024/25 school year. See the poster for more info on the series. The September session will focus on the latest results from the 2023/24 Student Learning Survey. Please contact EDUC.ReportingUnit@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
The recording for this session will be available on the B.C. K–12 Education Data Portal, under the Communications tab.
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2024 Enhancing Student Learning Report Submission Reminder
As per the Enhancing Student Learning Reporting Order, the Enhancing Student Learning Report is due by September 30, 2024. In acknowledgement of Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, submissions will be accepted until October 1, 2024. Reports can be submitted via the Submission Form or email. More information on what to include in submissions can be found on the Enhancing Student Learning website. For questions, please email EDUC.Framework@gov.bc.ca.
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2024/25 Classroom Enhancement Fund (CEF) Initial Reporting – Staffing & Learning Improvement Fund
School districts are required to submit their actual CEF hiring and costs as of September 29, 2024, to the ministry by October 18 using the 2024/25 CEF reporting template.
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Reporting Employment of Certificate Holders – Due Oct 15
Under s.80 of the Teachers Act, employers are required to make a report to the Director of Certification on all B.C. certificate holders who were employed during the past academic year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024). Please ensure your report is submitted through the Employers’ Area by October 15. If you have any questions, please email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
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Save the Date: Careers Week November 25 to 29, 2024
The Government of British Columbia has proclaimed November 25 to 29, 2024, as Careers Week, reflecting its commitment to work with educators and education partners to support career education and expand students’ knowledge of diverse career pathways. To that end, the ministry invites teachers and students to take part in this inaugural celebration of the importance of K-12 career education by presenting local events at their school, or attending provincial, online activities scheduled during the week. Led by Education and Employers Charity, UBC Geering Up and Outreach, and SkilledTradesBC, these activities will bring the world of work into the classroom, expand students’ knowledge of career possibilities, and provide links between competencies acquired at school and skills required in diverse, high-demand careers. Limited room is available for each event, and participation will be on a “first come, first served” basis.
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Youth Action Grants
McCreary’s Youth Advisory & Action Council created the Youth Action Grants (up to $750) to provide B.C. youth aged 12 to 19 years old with the opportunity to lead a project aimed at improving youth health in their school and/or community. The continuous application process is open until all the funds are distributed. Please share this informative, youth-created video and encourage learners to apply.
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Reminder: 2025/26 Child Care Minor Capital Funding Requests
A reminder that submissions for 2025/26 child care minor capital funding requests will be accepted until September 29, 2024. School districts can submit their plans using the expanded Capital Asset Planning System (MyCAPS). For more information, refer to the Capital Plan Instructions.
School districts with questions about the process or capital concept development can contact the Child Care Regional Director and Planning Officer team. School districts with questions about child care operational planning and programming can contact the Child Care Development Support team at ccdevsupport@gov.bc.ca.
For Information
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Resignation of Commissioner for Teacher Regulation
Effective September 13, 2024, the Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Ana Mohammed, has resigned from her role for personal reasons and to return to her previous consulting practice. The Ministry wants to express its appreciation to Ana for bringing to her work her experience in administrative, criminal, employment and human rights law as well as her diversity, equity and inclusion lens and her commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. Ana made a positive impact on the role in a short time and focused on ensuring a fair, timely and transparent process and increasing public confidence. Donnaree Nygard will serve as the Acting Commissioner during the recruitment process for a new Commissioner.
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First Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Early Learning and Child Care for First Nations
On September 12, 2024, the First Nations Leadership Council (the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the First Nations Summit and the B.C. Assembly of First Nations) and the governments of British Columbia and Canada gathered to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on early learning and child care for First Nations in British Columbia. This MOU is an important step on the path to reconciliation. The goal is to support the self-determination of First Nations in British Columbia and advance First Nations’ jurisdiction in relation to early learning and child care.
To learn more about this historic agreement, please read the Government of Canada news release.
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Foundry Offers PreVenture Program
As part of its mental health and substance use service offerings, the Foundry Central Office will be engaging with school districts to share information on supports available through the PreVenture program. PreVenture uses brief, person-focused workshops to promote mental health and substance use prevention. The program aims to equip youth aged 12 to 18 with self-efficacy and cognitive behavioural skills to help them cope with challenges that many youth face, such as stress, peer pressure, interpersonal conflict and identity development. Foundry provides training and comprehensive implementation support to school staff to deliver the program in the school setting. Through this process, young people may also become aware of Foundry services available to them in British Columbia, accessing care earlier and when needed.
Foundry has already worked with schools in several school districts over the last two years to implement the PreVenture program. There is no cost for school districts to participate. If you would like to learn more, please email preventure@foundrybc.ca or register for Foundry’s upcoming webinar on October 7.
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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 Jeffrey Forden Mooney.
