As announced in a special DM Bulletin earlier this week, the All Superintendents Meeting on October 12 has been relocated to the Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel by APA. There are a limited number of rooms in the hotel block, and they will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please reserve your room and be sure to RSVP for the All Superintendents Meeting before the end of day today.
Friday September 22, 2023
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
Hi, everyone.
Well, it’s been a bit of a week. A sincere thank you and recognition to all of you for calmly navigating the various protest events this week and focusing on continuing to provide safe and inclusive learning environments for all students. Please see a number of updates this week including an invitation to the first Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session; a reminder on Classroom Enhancement Fund reporting; and a parent resource regarding the Foundational Skills Assessment (FSA) that has been translated into eight languages for sharing with parents/caregivers and your school communities. FSA reminder letters to superintendents will also be distributed today.
Wishing everyone a restful weekend.
Christina
Christina Zacharuk
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care
For Action
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Funding Eligibility for Students from the Northwest Territories who have been Displaced by Wildfires
School districts should welcome and enroll school age students who have been displaced as a result of wildfires in the Northwest Territories. These students should be claimed for funding in the 2023/24 school year by using the 1701 form. Read the Funding Eligibility for Displaced Students from the Northwest Territories document for additional information. Questions can be directed to EDUC.SRSD@gov.bc.ca.
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Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session
Please join the Ministry of Education and Child Care on September 28 at 3:10 pm PDT for the first Analytics Engagement and Information Sharing Session of the 2023/24 school year. See the 2023/24 agenda poster for more information and the registration link. Please contact EDUC.ReportingUnit@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
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Changing Results for Young Children: Provincial Network Session
Changing Results for Young Children is a collaborative inquiry project that strengthens learning networks between community and school educators to support social and emotional well-being in young children. The Ministry of Education and Child Care will be hosting a virtual Provincial Networking Session on October 4 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm PDT. The theme is Changing Possibilities through the Power of Storytelling. Registration for the virtual session is now open.
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2023/24 Classroom Enhancement Fund (CEF) Initial Reporting: Staffing & LIF – Due Oct 13
School districts are required to submit their actual CEF hiring and costs, as of September 29, 2023, to the ministry by October 13 using the 2023/24 CEF reporting template.
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2023/24 Foundation Skills Assessment
2023/24 Foundation Skills Assessment will be administered from October 2 to November 10. Superintendents will receive a letter to support the FSA administration. There is also a new Foundation Skills Assessment for Parents and Caregivers information guide available under the Resources for Parents and Caregivers section of the Foundation Skills Assessment web page. The guide is available in eight languages. Superintendents may wish to share the guide with their district and school communities. Please contact EDUC.fsascore@gov.bc.ca if you have questions.
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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 encourage your youth learners to apply.
For Information
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Half-Masting Protocols on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
At the direction of the Province, Canadian flags on all B.C. government buildings will be flown at half-mast from sunrise until sunset on September 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Where a Canadian flag and a British Columbia flag fly near one another, both flags should be lowered to half-mast. This national day provides an opportunity for Canadians to commemorate the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools. The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation honours those who were lost, and the survivors, families, and communities who continue to grieve. School districts may follow a similar approach, but have the autonomy to follow their own policies with regard to flags, including Survivors’ Flags and Every Child Matters Flags, subject to the School Regulation.
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Preparing for Heat Events
The Ministry of Education and Child Care has updated the Safe and healthy schools website with additional information aimed at supporting schools in planning and managing heat events. Schools can plan for heat events to support the safety and comfort of students and staff. The ministry continues to work with school districts to ensure schools and other district facilities are prepared for active and future heat events.
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Reminder: Register for Feeding Futures Fall Gathering
A reminder to register your district’s School Food Coordinator for the Feeding Futures Fall Gathering on November 8 at the Coast Coal Harbour in Vancouver. Register before September 29 to join School Food Coordinators from districts across B.C. to network and share information on school food programs. Contact ECC.schoolfood@gov.bc.ca if you have questions.
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Graduation Assessment Schedule
The 2023/24 graduation assessment schedule has been updated and posted on the Graduation Assessments: Information for Administrators web page. The January 2024 administration window for the Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment and Grade 10 and 12 Literacy Assessments has been extended to two weeks. Administration windows of the written component for LTP10 and 12 (Évaluation de littératie de la 10e année – Français langue première and Évaluation de littératie de la 12e année – Français langue première) have been extended to a full day; the administration window of the written component for LTF12 (Évaluation de littératie de la 12e année – Français langue seconde-immersion) has been extended to two days for all sessions where these assessments are offered. Questions about the schedule can be sent to assessments@gov.bc.ca.
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Adjudication Supports for B.C. Provincial Assessments
B.C. Provincial Assessments have been enhanced with supports for students with demonstrated needs, including the availability of alternate format graduation assessments for the November administration sessions; large-print versions in ledger-size beginning November 2023 for graduation assessments and Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) in 2024; and a built-in text-to-speech reader for online components of provincial assessments. Please contact EDUC.Adjudication@gov.bc.ca if you have questions.
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Reminder: Framework for Enhancing Student Learning Report due Oct 3
A reminder that this year the Ministry of Education and Child Care 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.
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Reminder: International Education Mobility Programs
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 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.
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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 for Kelly Joseph Rambeau, whose teaching certificate was cancelled. An outcome was also posted for Ian Alexander Stephen McKenzie, who agreed to the cancellation of his certificate and to never apply for or be issued a certificate to teach in the K-12 education system.
